When does the Best Friends exhibition start?

The exhibition begins on November 17, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Clemens Sels Museum Neuss.

How long does the exhibition run?

According to the museum, the duration of the exhibition extends until April 25, 2027.

How much is the admission fee?

The regular admission fee for the museum is 5 euros. Admission is free for children and young people up to 21 years.

Are there tours for the exhibition?

Yes, the museum offers public tours as well as curator tours and family tours for the exhibition.

Is the museum accessible?

Access to the exhibitions is possible by elevator. However, visiting the local history exhibition in the Obertor is only accessible via stairs.

Where is the museum located?

The Clemens Sels Museum Neuss is located at Obertor in 41460 Neuss, near the city center.

A Quiet, Intelligent Look at Animals and Humans in Naive Art

Name: Best Friends! Humans and Animals in Naive Art
Start: 2026-11-17T12:00:00+01:00
End: 2027-04-25T20:00:00+02:00
Location: Clemens Sels Museum Neuss

Best Friends! Humans and Animals in Naive Art at the Clemens Sels Museum Neuss

With Best Friends!, the Clemens Sels Museum Neuss opens an exhibition on November 15, 2026, which vividly explores the relationship between humans and animals in Naive Art. The exhibition leads into a pictorial world where intuition, imagination, and direct expression play as important a role as loving observation and narrative clarity.

Naive Art as an Independent Visual Language

The exhibition shows how internationally operating self-taught artists depict animals not as decorative motifs but as carriers of character, closeness, and tension. Paintings, drawings, and sculptures unfold a special exhibition atmosphere: direct, colorful, and often characterized by a quiet poetry. It is precisely this unadulterated intensity that makes the viewing of the works so appealing.

Humans and Animals in the Mirror of Imagination and Everyday Life

Between domestic familiarity, playful scenes, and symbolic condensation, a rich spectrum of references emerges. The positions shown by André Bauchant, Erich Bödecker, Ilija Bosilj Bašičević, Max Raffler, Anna Mary Robertson, Adalbert Trillhaase, and Henryk Zegadlo refer to the art-historical independence of Naive Art. In doing so, the museum focuses on a collection that becomes newly experienceable after careful restoration.

A Museum with Profile and Educational Strength

The Clemens Sels Museum Neuss stands for a broad spectrum of art and cultural history. The collection ranges from the Middle Ages and Dutch works of the 17th century, through Nazarene, Pre-Raphaelites, and Symbolists to Rhineland Expressionists and Naive Art. Additionally, there are mediation offerings such as public tours, family formats, and inclusive formats that make the museum visit a lively art experience.

Conclusion

Best Friends! promises an exhibition that brings together animal representations, human closeness, and the poetic power of Naive Art in rare density. Anyone who values art as an aesthetic experience between immediacy and cultural education should definitely visit this exhibition live.