Karl Foerster: New Methods – New Gardens

09. March – 18. August 2024 Potsdam Museum – Forum für Kunst und Geschichte Am Alten Markt 9 | 14467 Potsdam Germany

A special exhibition curated by Heidi Howcroft to mark the 150th Anniversary of plantsman und gardener Karl Foerster‘s birth.

Karl Foerster (1874‒1970) is one of the pioneers of 20th century garden design. To mark his 150th birthday Potsdam Museum is showing an exhibition from March 9th to August 18th 2024 to honour his contribution to garden culture.

Foerster, an internationally renowned plantsman, gardener and prolific writer lead the way in demonstrating how plants can be combined to provide a naturalistic image though out the year. He bred and introduced new plants for the new gardens in his nursery in Bornim, Potsdam showing how these could be combined to produce dynamic and sustainable planting schemes. Hardy herbaceous plants and ornamental grasses were at the heart of this new style which spread over the borders to all corners of the globe.

The exhibition spread over four rooms, a long corridor and a media lounge aims to give visitors an insight into Karl Foerster life’s work and his motivation. Paintings, historical photographs and other personal objects from Foerster house are on display to the public for the first time. Images of contemporary gardens both in Germany and the US that are influenced by Foerster’s style and philosophy illustrate the reach of the Garden pioneer from Potsdam.

The exhibition is funded by the town of Potsdam, the Marianne Foerster Foundation within the German Foundation for Monument Protection ((the German Foundation for Monument Protection (Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz https://www.denkmalschutz.de/aktuelles.html) and the Conservation Department of the town of Potsdam