Calling all art lovers

Munich's new Brandhorst Museum for contemporary art opened its doors to the public on May 21, 2009. Named after private collectors Udo and Annette Brandhorst who donated the exhibits, the collection boasts more than 700 works by artists Cy Twombly, Gerhard Richter, Joseph Beuys and Damien Hirst, among others.

The technicolor structure located near the city's two major galleries, the Alte Pinakothek and the Neue Pinakothek, gives a further boost to Munich's growing reputation as one of Europe's most exciting art centers. The building's facade is made up of 36,000 ceramic rods glazed in 23 different colors. The idea is to let in as much daylight as possible and keep out street noise.

The interiors of the museum are dominated by light-colored wood. The floors and stairways are clad in oak. Designed by Berlin architects Sauerbruch Hutton, the building took shape after more than a decade of planning and cost 48 million euros ($66 million).

Millionaire art love Udo Brandhorst gave away the 100-million-euro collection in 1999 after his wife Annette died with the condition that the state of Bavaria build a fitting home for it. A large part of the collection comprises 60 paintings, drawings and sculptures by American artist Cy Twombly. The architects designed a special room for Twombly's "Lepanto," a painting in 12 parts.

American conceptual artist Bruce Nauman, born in 1941, is considered one of the world's most innovative and influential artists. He works in a variety of media ranging from video and holography to neon. This work, "Mean Clown Welcome" (1985), depicts two clowns who attempt over and over to shake hands but never quite connect.

Cy Twombly is the principal artist at the Brandhorst Museum, and his works fill up several rooms. This is some of Twombly's most recent work, which he finished last year. On view for the first time, it involves a series of giant canvases of roses ranging from pale yellow to deep violet.

Controversial American artist Jeff Koons polarizes opinion in the art world like no other. His giant reproductions of banal objects fetch huge prices around the world. Some consider him a pioneer, while others criticize his works as vulgar and based on cynical self-marketing. This is Koons' sculpture "Amore."

Andy Warhol (1928-1987) is another major artist featured at the Brandhorst Museum. More than 100 individual works by the icon of pop art are displayed in the museum. These pieces are entitled "Crosses" and "The Last Supper."

The Brandhorst Museum also boasts works by Sigmar Polke, Gerhard Richter and Alex Katz. This seven-part ensemble was created by Austrian artist Franz West for the Venice Biennale in 2007.