The University Library collects books, journals and other information carriers on the following subject areas: Art, artists, aesthetics, sociology of art, art history, art criticism, art pedagogy, art market, art collections, art techniques,
non-European art, video art, electronic art, light art, photo art, photographers, architecture, architects, architectural
theory, architecture criticism, architecture competitions, architectural photography, history of architecture, building technology,
green building, urban planning, urban development, garden architecture, landscape planning, design, designers, design theory,
applied arts, graphic design, visual communication, comics, illustration, industrial design, interior design, fashion, textile
arts, costume history, stage design, theater, museology, museum education, and film.
Collection focuses
- Art, architecture and contemporary design
- New forms of art
- Exhibition catalogs of all major museums, galleries, and art exhibition halls across the world
- Theory of art, design and architecture, especially from the Anglo-American world
- Art journals, architecture and design journals, including photo, fashion, graphics and multimedia journals
- Artist’s videos
Special collections
Costume and fashion collection
Location: Sammlung Mode und Textil, Postgasse 6, 1. Stock, 1010 Vienna, Tel +43 1 71133-2841
Please also use the partial catalog “costume and fashion collection” to search collection inventory. Conservation and restoration
Location: Institute of Conservation, and Chair of Technical Chemistry, Expositur Salzgries
Please also use the Institute of Conservation’s partial catalog to search collection inventory. Artists' books
Small editions designed by artists, rare exhibition catalogues, books incorporating special materials or insertions. 7.301
items (by July 2024). Dara Birnbaum, Christian Boltanski, Hanne Darboven, Dan Graham, Jenny Holzer, Ilja Kabakov, Yves Klein,
Joseph Kosuth, Matt Mullican, Dieter Roth, Laurence Weiner, Christopher Wool, ...
Browse the collection here.
Women-related literature
"Virtual library". Monographs on female artists, architects, designers, photographers, ... , feminist art theory, feminist
disciplines, iconography of female depictions, gender discussions, women’s studies, women’s galleries, ...
Browse the collection here.
Illustrative materials
Approximately 100 collections and 500 single plates dating from the 19th century - ornaments, depictions of nature, facsimile
editions of art and craft objects.
Surrealism-Collection
Original literature of Surrealism. About 250 monographies and magazines, e.g. by André Breton, Paul Éluard, Max Ernst.
Browse the collection here.
Clemens Holzmeister Estate
Written material, plans and drawings, photographs, slides.