FROM 13 DEC '25 – 3 MAY '26 | Kunsthal Rotterdam presents David Shrigley. What the Hell Was I Thinking?, the first large-scale Dutch exhibition of the British artist known for his dry humour and absurdist view of everyday life. The show runs until 3 May 2026 in Hal 1.

A critical eye wrapped in humour

David Shrigley (1968) has gained international recognition for his deadpan drawings, offbeat installations and sharp observations. Behind the apparent simplicity of his images lies a critical undertone: Shrigley challenges social conventions and the routines of daily life. His work reflects both humour and unease, inviting viewers to question the world around them.

The exhibition takes visitors into Shrigley’s unique universe, where doubt, failure and human peculiarities are visualised with minimal means. His approach strips situations to their essence, often revealing their absurdity.

Beyond drawings

Although best known for his drawings, Shrigley’s practice spans a wide range of media. What the Hell Was I Thinking? presents works including neons, inflatables and sculptures, alongside his characteristic works on paper. The variety highlights his ability to blend satire with critical reflection across different forms.

Organised in close collaboration with the artist himself and Stephen Friedman Gallery in London, the exhibition offers Rotterdam audiences a comprehensive look at Shrigley’s output.

Practical information

• Dates: 13 December 2025 – 3 May 2026
• Location: Kunsthal Rotterdam, Hal 1
• Organised with: David Shrigley and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London

Location and directions

Kunsthal Rotterdam is located on the Museumpark, close to Het Nieuwe Instituut and Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen. It is easily reached by tram or metro (Eendrachtsplein), and within walking distance from Rotterdam Central Station.

FROM 30 MAY '26 – 4 OCT '26 | Kunsthal Rotterdam presents a major overview of the work of American photographer Helen Levitt (1913–2009). The exhibition runs until 4 October 2026 in Hal 1.

Capturing New York street life

Helen Levitt is recognised for her poetic and intuitive approach to photography. Beginning in the 1930s, she turned her lens towards the everyday life of New York City. Her images capture playing children, fleeting encounters and moments of tenderness, humour and tension on the streets.

The exhibition offers a broad overview of her career, showing how Levitt combined spontaneity with a sharp eye for composition. Her work reveals both the vitality and fragility of urban life, making her one of the most distinctive documentary photographers of the 20th century.

From black-and-white to colour and film

On display is a rich selection from Levitt’s archive, ranging from early black-and-white photographs to colour prints and film projects. Together, these works highlight her constant exploration of how the everyday could be transformed into something lyrical and profound.

The exhibition is organised in close collaboration with Fundación Mapfre in Madrid, which holds an extensive collection of Levitt’s work.

Practical information

• Dates: 30 May – 4 October 2026
• Location: Kunsthal Rotterdam, Hal 1
• Organised with: Fundación Mapfre, Madrid

Location and directions

Kunsthal Rotterdam is located on the Museumpark, close to Het Nieuwe Instituut and Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen. It is easily reached by tram or metro (Eendrachtsplein), and within walking distance from Rotterdam Central Station.

FROM 27 MAR '26 – 30 AUG '26 | Kunsthal Rotterdam presents Flowers Forever, the first major exhibition in the Netherlands to explore the cultural history of flowers in art, design, fashion, politics, religion and science. The show runs until 30 August 2026 in Hal 2.

The many meanings of flowers

The exhibition traces how flowers have been represented and valued across centuries, from ancient myths and religious symbols to status objects, trade commodities and, in today’s context, fragile links in the global ecosystem. Visitors will discover how these motifs have shaped visual culture and social history alike.

Through seven thematic chapters, Flowers Forever reveals the richness and variety of floral imagery and symbolism. Paintings, sculptures, photographs and large-scale installations guide visitors through this multi-layered story, showing the enduring appeal and significance of flowers across cultures and eras.

Collaboration with Kunsthalle München

The exhibition is organised in close collaboration with Kunsthalle München. By bringing together works from different disciplines and periods, the project offers an experience that is as sensory as it is informative, combining aesthetic beauty with historical perspective.

Practical information

• Dates: 27 March – 30 August 2026
• Location: Kunsthal Rotterdam, Hal 2
• Organised with: Kunsthalle München

Location and directions

Kunsthal Rotterdam is located on the Museumpark, close to Het Nieuwe Instituut and Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen. It is easily reached by tram or metro (Eendrachtsplein), and within walking distance from Rotterdam Central Station.

FROM 24 OCT '26 – 28 FEB '27 | Kunsthal Rotterdam presents a major retrospective of Paul Signac (1863–1935), a leading figure of neo-impressionism. The exhibition runs until 28 February 2027 in Hal 1.

A driving force in neo-impressionism

The exhibition brings together more than seventy works from over thirty international collections. Visitors will see how Signac’s innovative use of colour and brushwork transformed European art. His technique of placing pure colours side by side in short strokes or dots allows the eye of the viewer to merge them into shimmering compositions.

Tracing his development from early river landscapes to Mediterranean scenes, the exhibition highlights Signac’s role as painter, theorist, mentor and networker. His approach laid the foundation for a movement that inspired artists across the continent.

Dialogues with contemporaries

Alongside more than thirty works by Signac, the exhibition presents paintings by artists influenced by his ideas, including Henri-Edmond Cross, Camille Pissarro, Théo van Rysselberghe, Georges Seurat and Jan Toorop. These juxtapositions underline Signac’s impact on his peers and the broader development of neo-impressionism.

The exhibition is organised by Kunsthal Rotterdam in collaboration with Museum Barberini, Potsdam, with the generous support of the Archives Signac in Paris.

Practical information

• Dates: 24 October 2026 – 28 February 2027
• Location: Kunsthal Rotterdam, Hal 1
• Organised with: Museum Barberini, Potsdam, and Archives Signac, Paris

Location and directions

Kunsthal Rotterdam is located on the Museumpark, close to Het Nieuwe Instituut and Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen. It is easily reached by tram or metro (Eendrachtsplein), and within walking distance from Rotterdam Central Station.