Collection as Cosmos explores time and the stories art can tell. The exhibition challenges the idea of art history as one, continuous timeline. Instead of measuring time, it focuses on the constellations and connections we can create with artworks across time. Celebrating its 90th birthday in 2026, the Van Abbemuseum presents a new collection display that offers a fresh perspective on time and rethinks the way we look at our collection.
Like constellations of stars in the night sky, 250 artworks are spread across the museum’s three floors. They do not follow a fixed timeline or chronological order. By linking personal stories to larger cycles, the exhibition brings together different rhythms of time, from human histories to time on a cosmic scale. With Collection as Cosmos, the Van Abbemuseum moves away from presenting a single truth or a straight line through time. Instead, it becomes a space where multiple times and stories exist side by side. The exhibition stimulates wonder, invites new perspectives, and opens up a lively dialogue with time.