Heidi Horten Collection names new director to reshape its artistic vision

The Heidi Horten Collection has appointed Verena Kaspar-Eisert as its new director, replacing Agnes Husslein-Arco. Under her leadership, the museum will launch its first major exhibition—a solo show by Elisabeth von Samsonow—while also expanding research into the origins of its artworks.

Verena Kaspar-Eisert took over as director with plans to modernise the collection. She aims to make the museum more accessible and highlight female artists and perspectives in its programming. Her first major project, Big Girl, a solo exhibition by Elisabeth von Samsonow, will run from September 17, 2026, to February 28, 2027.

Before that, the spring exhibition Animalia will explore the relationship between humans and animals through over 100 works. On April 18, artist Alois Mosbacher will create live portraits of visitors’ dogs as part of the event. Later in the year, from April 29, Gottfried Bechtold’s 16-ton Concrete Porsche will occupy the museum’s courtyard, accompanied by related photographs, films, and drawings on the ground floor. A smaller exhibition, To Shoe or Not to Shoe: Warhol and Others, opens on October 20. It examines women’s shoes as objects of fetish, artistic projection, and feminist critique. Meanwhile, the museum continues provenance research on around 150 pieces, acknowledging that its founder’s fortune originated before 1945. The Heidi Goess-Horten Foundation supports acquisitions with a dedicated budget, while an advisory board oversees major decisions. In 2025, the collection attracted 115,000 visitors, bringing its total to 330,000 since opening.

The Heidi Horten Collection is evolving under Kaspar-Eisert’s direction, with new exhibitions and deeper research into its holdings. The museum’s focus on accessibility and female representation will shape its future programming. Visitor numbers have steadily grown, reflecting its expanding role in the art world.