The Neue Galerie in New York is opening the first US museum exhibition dedicated to German Expressionist artist Erich Heckel (1883-1970), running from October 9, 2025 to January 12, 2026. Heckel, a co-founder of Die Brücke in 1905 alongside Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, and Fritz Bleyl, is often overshadowed by Kirchner's dramatic life and market success. The show features around 40 works from 1905 to 1920, including loans from Harvard Art Museums and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and highlights Heckel's bold woodcuts and paintings that pushed the boundaries of Expressionism.
This exhibition matters because it corrects a long-standing imbalance in art historical attention, giving overdue recognition to the artist who was the organizational and promotional engine behind Die Brücke. By showcasing Heckel's radical, self-taught approach to color and form, the show invites a reassessment of his role in one of the 20th century's most influential art movements. It also underscores the Neue Galerie's commitment to German and Austrian art, building on the success of its 2009 Die Brücke survey.