Hotspot Leipzig and the subsequent Neue Leipziger Schule represent a highly influential movement within contemporary figurative art. Originating at the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst in Leipzig, this artistic tradition places strong emphasis on craftsmanship and realism. Artists such as Werner Tübke, Bernhard Heisig, and Wolfgang Mattheuer laid the foundation with their technically refined and socially engaged works. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Neue Leipziger Schule emerged, with artists like Neo Rauch, Rosa Loy, and Matthias Weischer blending realism with dreamlike and surreal elements.

Since 2009, the Drents Museum has devoted considerable attention to these movements. Exhibitions such as Realism from Leipzig and solo presentations by Rosa Loy, Kristina Schuldt, Mirjam Völker and Tilo Baumgärtel reflect the museum’s long-standing commitment to these artists. The museum has also built an extensive collection of works from both the original and the new Leipzig schools, including recent acquisitions like Baboom by Tilo Baumgärtel. The book includes essays by leading authors and a comprehensive selection of works.

Text in English and Dutch.

Harry Tupan is Director of the Drents Museum in Assen, the Netherlands. A trained art historian, he specialises in modern and contemporary art. Under his leadership, the museum has gained international recognition through high-profile exhibitions and cultural collaborations, emphasising cross-border connections and storytelling through art. Annemiek Rens is Chief Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Drents Museum. With a background in art history, she curates major international exhibitions and publications. Her work focuses on presenting innovative perspectives on 20th- and 21st-century art, making global artistic developments accessible to broad audiences.