'Palastblühen' or 'Palast in Bloom' is an annual event at the Kunstpalast Museum in Düsseldorf, Germany. It celebrates the arrival of spring through a unique fusion of art and floral design. During this event, local florists create floral interpretations that complement specific artworks or gallery spaces within the museum. This initiative offers visitors a fresh perspective on the museum's collection, blending visual art with the beauty of floral arrangements.
The inaugural 'Palastblühen' took place in 2024, drawing inspiration from similar exhibitions held annually in various U.S. museums, such as the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. In Europe, this format is established at venues like the Aargauer Kunsthaus. Following its success, the Kunstpalast is hosting the event for the second time from March 21 to March 30, 2025. So there's still time to visit!
The 2025 Event Features Renowned Düsseldorf Florists
Participating florists have the creative freedom to select artworks and design corresponding floral arrangements, resulting in poetic spaces that invite visitors to experience nature and art in a new context. Here is an overview with photos of some of the designs with their designers.
Manfred Hoffmann
Manfred Hoffmann is a florist known for his modern and artistic approach to floral design, drawing inspiration from contemporary art, photography, fashion, and nature. Based in Düsseldorf’s Gerresheim district, his shop serves as a creative space where he continuously reinterprets nature in innovative ways. His foundational training was shaped by the renowned German florist Peter Assmann, which allowed him to gain international experience and refine his unique style. Today, Hoffmann is also the Creative Director of the Association of German Florists (FDF), where he contributes to shaping trends and standards in the industry.
Manfred:
"I'm excited that I've got this opportunity to bring my work to the Kunstpalast. When I saw the rooms, I knew exactly how I wanted to incorporate my flowers. In the big room upstairs, for example, I wanted to bring in the lines and colors of several paintings in the room, it all had to align with my design. And the intriguing differences all together in one design, that's what made it so special. All three of my designs are exactly what I envisioned. The large carpet, and also the Porta Nova Red Naomi Roses Bowl next to the mauve and purple flower wall, happy with the results."
Blumenhaus am Hofgarten – Tino Hoogterp, Jule Schnaugst, Kristina Janet Schacke
Blumenhaus am Hofgarten is a historic flower shop with nearly a century of tradition. Its current owner, Tino Hoogterp, grew up surrounded by flowers in his parents’ shop in Recklinghausen, which fueled his passion for floristry. His career has taken him across Europe, from Graz to Düsseldorf and Helsinki, enriching his perspective and technique. Hoogterp’s signature style is defined by minimalist aesthetics, clean shapes, and harmonious color combinations. He regards floristry as a true art form and achieved fifth place in the 2024 German Floristry Championships. His inspirations include world-renowned florists such as Gregor Lersch, Bart Hassam, and Ursula Wegener.
Tino:
"This exhibition really is something I love profoundly. The combination of Art, with our floral Art, is exactly what it is all about to me. Flower Design is Art. And the things you can do when it's seen like art are endless."
Blumenbinderei Lehmann – Victoria Bernds
Victoria Bernds unexpectedly discovered her love for floristry during the pandemic when she began helping in her parents’ flower shop. Though originally trained in Asian Studies, she found herself naturally immersed in the floral craft, benefiting from her parents’ expertise as master florists trained under Gregor Lersch. Today, she combines her academic knowledge with her floristry practice, incorporating influences from Japanese architecture and Korean floral design. She believes that flowers have the power to elevate any space and experience when arranged with care and intention.
Dornrose – Sabine Krusekopf
Growing up in a nursery with an attached flower shop, Sabine Krusekopf was introduced to the world of plants and flowers from an early age. After completing a gardening apprenticeship and later studying food technology, she eventually pursued floristry full-time and established her own shop, Dornrose, in the vibrant Düsseldorf district of Flingern. The area, known for its independent boutiques, galleries, and cafés, provides the perfect backdrop for her creative approach. Krusekopf’s style emphasizes natural aesthetics, featuring seasonal and unique flower varieties that bring an organic, fresh feel to her designs.
Alla Mandic
Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, Alla Mandic moved to Düsseldorf in 1995 to study interior design but soon found herself drawn to floristry. Her journey began as a student working in a flower shop, where she discovered her passion for floral art. In 2010, she founded her own business, focusing on the interplay between interior spaces and floral compositions. Inspired by Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny and the principles of Bauhaus design, Mandic developed a distinctive style that combines structured spatial arrangements with the fluidity of natural elements. Her floral creations challenge conventional material limits and explore new artistic possibilities.
October First Studio – Nina Gehrke
Nina Gehrke places great emphasis on the role of color in floral design. Her floral arrangements are deeply influenced by the work of international floral studios such as Metaflora in New York, Leigh Chappell Flowers in London, and Debeaulieu in Paris. A business graduate, Gehrke later pursued floristry, training in Zurich and completing her certification in Innsbruck in 2020. She now runs a small but dynamic studio in Düsseldorf’s Oberbilk district, where she takes on a variety of projects and hosts workshops. She finds beauty in the uniqueness of each bloom and leaf, embracing the unpredictability and individuality of nature in her floral compositions.
Tannendiele – Michael Frings and Astrid Franke
Michael Frings is a highly accomplished florist who graduated at the top of his class. His expertise has led him to work on exhibitions, stage productions, photo shoots, and trade fair displays before opening his own shop, Tannendiele, in Düsseldorf. His work is centered around the flower itself, celebrating its natural beauty through careful selection and presentation. He specializes in using seasonal and regional plants, whether fresh, rooted, dried, or preserved. His inspirations include some of the most respected names in floristry, such as Norwegian master florist Stein Are Hansen and Belgian floral designer Daniel Ost, both of whom have influenced his refined and organic style.
Michael Frings:
"I'm a huge fan of these purple and blue colors and to decorate the flowers under water, seemed the right special effect in this bright room. The extra dimension created this way, makes it into a creation that calms, yet intrigues. And the turning stands create some movement. It's easy for the eye to enjoy. I tested the clearness of the water in the vases after several days, and it works fine, so I gave it a chance and I'm very happy with the result."
Victor Breuer – Victor Breuer, Nele Münzer, Dominik Zelles
Victor Breuer has cultivated a distinctive floral style influenced by his love for architecture, interior design, and an intuitive sense of color, texture, and form. His career has taken him from Düsseldorf to Miami, Paris, and Forte dei Marmi, where he has continuously refined his approach to floristry. After earning his master’s certification in Lower Bavaria, he quickly made Düsseldorf his professional home, establishing his own floral studio in the Pempelfort district. Breuer’s work combines creativity with expert craftsmanship, and his designs reflect a deep appreciation for both botanical beauty and artistic composition.
Dominik Zelles:
"My work in front of the Mona Lisa is a collection of all the dark flowers. And I presented them in golden vases. To bring back the atmosphere of the painting. All the dark colors and textures show the audience the wide choice of varieties in this dark pallet. I think that not that many people know these colors exist in so many flowers."
Find Your Way to Kunstpalast 'Palastblühen' or 'Palast in Bloom'
Regine Motmans and Nicola Fink visited the exhibition and both think it's a must if you have the opportunity to go there and see it with your own eyes. The wealth of Art to be seen in this museum is beyond imagination and the combination with the floral designs is outstanding. Special opening hours are scheduled during the event, allowing visitors ample opportunity to explore these unique installations. Admission is €16, with concessions at €12, and free entry for children and young people under 18.
For more details and ticket purchases, please visit the Kunspalast's official event page.
