Vienna’s Heidi Horten Museum Welcomes New Director with Bold Vision for Art and Animals

The Heidi Horten Collection in Vienna has appointed Verena Kaspar-Eisert as its new director. She takes over from Agnes Husslein-Arco and plans to expand the museum’s offerings with a focus on accessibility and female artists. Her first major exhibition, Animalia, will open soon, exploring connections between humans and animals.

Founded by Heidi Horten, the museum opened in June 2022 near the Albertina. Since then, it has attracted over 330,000 visitors. Kaspar-Eisert now leads the institution with a clear vision: to broaden the collection and highlight women’s contributions to art.

Her debut exhibition, Animalia, will feature live animal portraits by Alois Mosbacher. Visitors can bring their pets to be sketched as part of the show. Outside, Gottfried Bechtold’s Concrete Porsche will stand in the courtyard—a tribute to Kaspar-Eisert’s roots in Vorarlberg. Beyond exhibitions, the museum is examining the origins of around 150 pre-1945 works. This research aims to ensure transparency in the collection’s history. Kaspar-Eisert also intends to make the museum more welcoming while strengthening its focus on female perspectives. From September 17, 2026, to February 28, 2027, the museum will host a solo show by Elisabeth von Samsonow. Titled Big Girl, the exhibition will mark another step in Kaspar-Eisert’s strategy to diversify the programme.

Under Kaspar-Eisert’s leadership, the Heidi Horten Collection is set to evolve with new exhibitions and deeper research. The Animalia show and von Samsonow’s Big Girl will bring fresh themes to the museum. Meanwhile, provenance checks and accessibility efforts continue to shape its future direction.