Koloman Moser retrospective at Neue Galerie, New York

Koloman Moser
Koloman Moser was a major Austrian artist and designer who most notably co-founded Vienna's Wiener Werkstätte. On show at New York's Neue Galerie is the first American museum retrospective dedicated to his work, surveying his entire decorative arts career. Pictured, Wardrobe from the bedroom of the Eisler von Terramare apartment, 1902-03.
(Image credit: Ernst Ploil)

The legendary artist and designer, Koloman Moser, is the centre of a newly unveiled exhibition, taking place at the Neue Galerie in New York City this week. As the first monographic survey of the Viennese designer's work on American soil, the Neue Galerie's retrospective promises to expose the full length and breadth of Moser's work, which touched on graphic design, furniture, jewellery, textiles and much more.

Moser was most notably a co-founder of the Wiener Werkstätte, though because he was overshadowed by his partner Josef Hoffman, he has largely remained an unsung hero of the design world.

Curated by Dr. Christian Witt-Dörring of the Neue Galerie, the exhibition focuses on works from 1897-1907, arguably the most creative period of Moser's career. Moser's artistic foray first began with painting and graphic art, which initially referenced the Art Nouveau style before he developed a more austere aesthetic that became characteristic of Vienna during the time.

Moser was also influential as one of the founding members of the Viennese Secession; a group of artists who sought to present fine art and applied art as one and purveyed a modern Austrian style dominated by clean and simple geometric forms. They were also champions of the notion of 'a total work of art' (Gesamtkunstwerk), to which all aspects of daily life could be seen as an artistic form.

This notion of Gesamtkunstwerk is cleverly expressed in the Neue Galerie's show, thanks to an exhibition design by Chicago-based architect John Vinci. Several galleries are adorned with period wallpaper to emulate the all-encompassing ideology pioneered by Moser. Against this vibrant backdrop, 200 of Moser's works are presented in their full glory, highlighting his wonderful dexterity as a graphic artist, furniture designer and interior architect.

In 1890, Moser, along with Hoffman, became a professor at the School of Applied Arts in Vienna. It was in this capacity (and the later establishment of the Weiner Werkstätte) that Moser and Hoffman successfully set the course for design in Austria, and much of Central Europe, for years to come.

'Koloman Moser helped define the art of his time,' said Ronald S. Lauder, President of the Neue Galerie. 'Today, it is impossible to imagine Vienna without the influence of Moser.'

Dr. Christian Witt-Dörring

Curated by Dr. Christian Witt-Dörring of the Neue Galerie, the exhibition focuses on works from 1897-1907, arguably the most creative period of Moser's career

(Image credit: press)

Armchair

Armchair, ca. 1903, by Koloman Moser.

(Image credit: Neue Galerie New York)

The Neue Galerie's exhibition

The Neue Galerie's exhibition has been designed by Chicago-based architect John Vinci

(Image credit: John Vinci)

Koloman Moser

Several galleries are adorned with period wallpaper to emulate the all-encompassing ideology pioneered by Moser

(Image credit: press)

Frommes Kalendar

Poster for 'Frommes Kalendar,' 1899. Courtesy: Serge Sabarsky Collection, New York

(Image credit: Hulya Kolabas)

Photograph of Koloman Moser

Photograph of Koloman Moser, ca. 1903, Photographer unknown.

(Image credit: MAK - Austrian Museum)

Moser's artistic foray

Moser's artistic foray first began with painting and graphic art, which initially referenced the Art Nouveau style before he developed a more austere aesthetic that became characteristic of Vienna during the time

(Image credit: press)

The Museum of Modern Art

Poster for the Thirteenth Vienna Secession exhibition, 1902. Courtesy: The Museum of Modern Art, New York, Gift of Joseph H. Heil, by exchange, 2010; Digital image courtesy: The Museum of Modern Art / Licensed by SCALA / Art Resource, NY

(Image credit: The Museum of Modern Art)

Center piece

'Centerpiece', 1904, from a private collection.

(Image credit: Hulya Kolabas)

Vibrant backdrop

Against a vibrant backdrop, 200 of Moser's works are presented in their full glory, highlighting his wonderful dexterity as a graphic artist, furniture designer and interior architect

(Image credit: press)

'Textile Schwämme'

'Textile Schwämme' (Mushrooms), design no. 4003, 1899. 

(Image credit: Austrian Museum for Applied Arts/Contemporary Art, Vienna)

Vase

Vase, 1900. 

(Image credit: Ernst Ploil)

Belt buckle

Belt buckle, 1904. 

(Image credit: Asenbaum Photo Archive)

Sugar box

Sugar box, 1903.

(Image credit: Neue Galerie)

ADDRESS

1048, 5th Avenue
New York
NY 10028

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS

Pei-Ru Keh is a former US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru held various titles at Wallpaper* between 2007 and 2023. She reports on design, tech, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru took a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars, actively seeking out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.