Maurizio Cattelan. NIGHT at the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin, Germany, marks the Italian artist's most significant solo appearance in the country to date. As the winner of the 2026 Preis der Nationalgalerie, Cattelan takes over the museum's iconic Mies van der Rohe glass hall, moving beyond traditional gallery displays to create a reflective environment that integrates the building's architecture into the experience itself.

The exhibition brings together influential works from across the artist's career, including the taxidermied horse of Novecento and the controversial kneeling figure in Him. These historical pieces sit alongside new commissions and works inspired by literary references like Gunter Grass’s The Tin Drum. The selection focuses on Cattelan’s recurring exploration of the thin line between innocence and violence, using sculpture and installation to question how we construct personal and national identities.

By placing these provocative objects within a German context, the show invites a deeper look at shared historical trauma and symbols of authority. Cattelan avoids straightforward irony, instead using the transparency and scale of the Neue Nationalgalerie to force a confrontation with difficult images. It is a rare opportunity to see how his practice has evolved from early satirical gestures to complex site-specific interventions that reshape a city's cultural landscape.

A high-impact show for visitors who appreciate art that uses wit to tackle heavy historical themes within a world-class architectural setting.

Start by viewing the large-scale works from the perimeter to see how they interact with the building’s glass walls, then move closer to notice the unsettling details and textures of the sculptures.