Founded in 1903 by architect Josef Hoffmann, painter and graphic designer Koloman Moser, and financier Fritz Waerndorfer, the Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshops) was a pioneering collective of artists, designers, and craftspeople based in Vienna, Austria. Emerging from the spirit of the Vienna Secession and inspired by the ideals of the British Arts and Crafts Movement, the Wiener Werkstätte sought to unite fine and applied arts by bringing exceptional design and meticulous craftsmanship into everyday life. The Wiener Werkstätte: Art, Luxury, and Beauty in Modern Vienna showcases the remarkable range of the firm’s work, including furniture, ceramics, glass, jewelry, metalwork, textiles, and graphic design.
“We are delighted to present this exhibition, which shines a light on one of the most influential design movements of the early twentieth century,” said Lightner Museum Executive Director David Bagnall. “At a time when our building, the former Hotel Alcazar, was in its heyday, artists and designers of the Wiener Werkstätte were redefining how art could shape modern living. This exhibition connects our historic setting with that parallel moment of artistic innovation in Europe, while giving audiences the opportunity to experience the Wiener Werkstätte’s extraordinary design vision.”
The Lightner Museum will celebrate the exhibition’s opening with an intimate ticketed reception on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Tickets will be available for purchase beginning October 1. Availability is limited.
The Wiener Werkstätte: Art, Luxury, and Beauty in Modern Vienna is supported in part by the Crisp-Ellert Fund at the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, The St. Johns County Tourist Development Council, the St. Johns Cultural Council, and the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
