left Chicken and Egg
1946, Mixed media object: 445 x 240 x 185 mm. Lent by Geoff Thomas 1991 (Tate Britain collection L01738)

right

Acknowledged as one of the leading artists of the Modernist era, Schwitters also made an important contribution to the development of contemporary art and architecture both in Britain and internationally. However, apart from the Schwitters Archive at the Sprengel Museum in Hanover and the Merz Barn wall at the Hatton Gallery in Newcastle, there is no centre in Britain or Europe devoted to Kurt Schwitters. To address this situation the LITTORAL Trust has launched an international fundraising campaign to restore the Merz Barn, and create a Merz Barn museum and Kurt Schwitters study centre. This will be based in Elterwater, near the Merz Barn.

'..one of the key works of 20th century art .. the Dada equivalent of Durham Cathedral'
William Feaver.

'..the most important work of modern British art'
Andrew Graham-Dixon.

'My Merz Barn is better and more important than everything I have done up to now'
Kurt Schwitters (6/10/47)


 

Copyright 2011 by LITTORAL. All rights reserved. LITTORAL is a non-profit arts trust which promotes new creative partnerships, critical art practices and cultural strategies in response to issues about social, environmental and economic change. LITTORAL 42, Lodge Mill Lane, Turn Village, Ramsbottom BL0 0RW, UK. Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1706 827 961 e-mail:Ian@littoral.org.uk.

Kurt Schwitters / contributions to contemporary art and architecture

Kurt Schwitters
Merz - life after Dada
Schwitters in England the Merz Barn in context
Schwitters' contributions to contemporary art and architecture

Abbot Hall Art Gallery
Kendal
Abbot Hall is an exquisite gallery in the north west of England on the edge of the Lake District.
Link

Hatton Gallery
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
The Merzbarn wall is permanently displayed in one room of the gallery and is considered as a work of international significance.
Link

Tate Britain, Millbank,
London
Tate Britain is the world centre for the understanding and enjoyment of British art and works actively to promote interest in British art internationally.
Link

The Armitt Collection
Ambleside
The Armitt is situated in Ambleside, Cumbria, in the very heart of the magnificent English Lake District.
Link
 

The Museum of Modern Art
New York
In 1947, with financial aid from MOMA, New York, Schwitters began work on the Merzbarn in an old straw barn in Langdale Valley.
Link

The National Galleries of Scotland
Edinburgh
A collection of Scottish and international art housed in five galleries across Edinburgh.
Link

The Sprengel Museum
Hannover
The Kurt Schwitters Archive was established at the Sprengel Museum Hannover in 1994, and contains the most comprehensive documentation of his life and work.
Link

See also our links page for more listings.

Schwitters' works in major public collections: