The Kunstmuseum Stuttgart occupies a dramatic glass cube on Schlossplatz, directly opposite the New Palace. At night, the translucent facade glows from within, making it one of the most visible buildings in central Stuttgart. The building opened in 2005 and was immediately controversial — the bold modernist box on a square defined by baroque and neoclassical buildings — but it has since become a loved part of the city's skyline.
The collection is strong on German modernism — Dieter Roth, Willi Baumeister, and Otto Dix figure prominently — alongside international contemporary work. The museum also holds the largest public collection of work by Adolf Hölzel, an early Stuttgart abstractionist whose ideas influenced both Baumeister and Roth.
The building includes a rooftop terrace with views over Schlossplatz and a good museum cafe. Admission is charged; the permanent collection is free on certain days — check the current schedule on the museum website.