Two major exhibitions will explore the groundbreaking collaborations that shaped postwar art. Five Friends: John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Cy Twombly opens at Museum Brandhorst in Munich on April 10th, 2025, before traveling to Museum Ludwig in Cologne on October 3rd, 2025. With over 150 works, including paintings, drawings, scores, stage props, costumes, and archival materials, the exhibition examines the creative exchange among these five artists, who bridged the disciplines of music, dance, and visual art.
Drawing from the extensive collections of both institutions, the exhibition presents key works that highlight their intertwined artistic journeys. Museum Ludwig, home to one of the world’s largest Pop Art collections, features seminal pieces by Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg, while Museum Brandhorst showcases its renowned collection of Cy Twombly’s expressive paintings and drawings.
Among the highlights, Rauschenberg’s Combines blur the boundaries between painting and sculpture, integrating everyday objects into layered compositions. Twombly’s gestural canvases, infused with poetic inscriptions, reveal his distinctive approach to abstraction. Complementing the visual works, site-specific performances will bring to life the experimental scores of John Cage and the radical choreography of Merce Cunningham, reflecting their enduring impact on contemporary music and dance.
The exhibition also sheds light on the personal relationships and artistic alliances that connected these figures, offering a deeper understanding of their shared influence. By reconsidering their collaborations, Five Friends presents a fresh perspective on postwar American art and its lasting legacy.
Odalisk, 1955-1958
Flag on Orange Field, 1957
Axle, 1964
