'Die Kunst gehört allen' | ‘Art belongs to everyone’
In this episode, I talk to Reinhard Ernst – entrepreneur,philanthropist, art collector and founder of the Reinhard Ernst Museum in Wiesbaden.
We follow his journey: from humble beginnings to building a successful business to the years-long project of planning and realising his own museum.
This raises some interesting questions:
How do you get into art if it wasn't part of your family environment?
When does buying individual works turn into a real passion for collecting?
And why would you ultimately make your private collection available to the public in your own museum?
Reinhard Ernst speaks very openly about his attitude towards art, society and his role as a benefactor. His guiding principle, ‘You are not alone in the world,’ runs through everything he does. Together with his wife Sonja, he has established a foundation that supports childrenand the elderly, preserves historical monuments, and promotes art and culture. For both of them, this is not just a financial commitment, but a conviction to strengthen the values they personally hold dear.
His great passion is abstract art – from the post-war period to the present day. Particularly noteworthy is his collection of 52 works by Helen Frankenthaler, the largest privately owned collection in the world. For him, abstract art opens up the freedom to decide for yourself what to see. Colours and forms have an effect without guidelines, leaving room for one's own thoughts, feelings and memories.
We also talk about his close relationship with Japan and his friendship with architect Fumihiko Maki, which gave rise to the vision for a museum that not only offers state-of-the-art architecture, but above all space for people. A house for art – and for encounters.
At the end of the conversation, I will give you a bookrecommendation. This time, it is the book ‘Moral Ambition’ by Rutger Bregman.
Published in German by Rowohlt Verlag.
rutgerbregman.com/
As always, you can find the conversation on your podcast platform of choice and, starting with this episode, on our YouTube channel @vanhorngallery.
Feel free to follow us on Instagram @voicesonart and@van_horn_duesseldorf and subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast or your platform of choice. We appreciate good reviews.
The conversation with Reinhard Ernst was recorded on 21 July 2025, in German, 49 min.
Further information here:
museum-re.de/de/
www.ernst-stiftung.de/
van-horn.net/podcast-1/
