The K21 occupies a magnificent 19th-century parliament building (Ständehaus) in the southern part of the city centre, a five-minute walk from the Königsallee. The building was converted in 2002 into a showcase for art from the 1980s to the present day, with a spectacular glass roof added to the courtyard that now serves as an indoor sculpture hall.
The permanent collection and changing exhibitions focus on large-scale installation, photography, and video art. Thomas Ruff, Andreas Gursky, and Candida Höfer — all graduates of the Düsseldorf Academy — are well represented. The combination of the historic building and contemporary art creates a genuine tension that makes the K21 a more interesting experience than most museums of its type.