Joseph Beuys's thought and work were groundbreaking for the history and theory of contemporary art and continue to shape them to this day. His interdisciplinary interests and his expanded concept of art (Erweiterter Kunstbegriff), in conjunction with socio-political discourses, opened up new perspectives for contemporary art.
The Joseph Beuys Archiv is an internationally renowned research institution dedicated to the life and work of the artist and comprises a continuously growing collection of over 200,000 archival items. It is part of the Museum Schloss Moyland Foundation and is also affiliated with the Düsseldorf Art Academy as an associated institute. The bringing together of the artist’s artworks and archival holdings under one roof is unique internationally.
The core collection consists of archival materials that Joseph Beuys himself preserved and, until his death, entrusted to the art collectors Hans and Franz Joseph van der Grinten for safekeeping and subsequent cataloguing. These include around 35,000 letters to Joseph Beuys dating from 1950 to 1986, and a comprehensive collection of newspaper articles and printed material relating to the artist and his exhibitions. The collection is supplemented by parts of Beuys's private library, comprising books and international journals from various disciplines.
As a dynamic research institute, the archive is dedicated to the scholarly cataloguing, contextualisation and expansion of its collections through new materials, including artistic estates and contemporary documents. With the unique estate of the artist and performance photographer Ute Klophaus, the archive is also a major centre for research into performance art and action art from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Contact
At a Glance
@josephbeuysarchiv
Archive in Nordrhein-Westfalen
Contact us!
jba@moyland.de
Research requests can be submitted via email.
Visits to the archive are possible by arranging an appointment in advance.
Team
Head: Margherita Foresti
foresti@moyland.de
Phone +49 2824 9510-17
Archive: Stephan Arntz
Phone +49 2824 9510-28
Research Assistant: Anna Sexton
Phone +49 2824 9510-45
Archive/Library: Ulrike Straeten
Phone +49 2824 9510-29
Please send inquiries regarding works of art in the collection of Museum Schloss Moyland to havekes@moyland.de.
Information
Terms of Use [PDF]
Schedule of Fees [PDF]
Request for Access [PDF]