Peter Iden 1938 – 2026

Biography

Peter Iden was a German theater critic and art critic who helped shape Frankfurt’s modern art scene. Born on September 11, 1938, in Międzyrzecz, he wrote journalistically for the Frankfurter Rundschau, where he led the arts pages, and was the founding director of the Museum für Moderne Kunst Frankfurt, serving from 1978 to 1987. As the museum’s first director he built its collection and profile from scratch, and he remained a mentor and reference point for art in Frankfurt and Salzburg long after. He died on November 11, 2026, aged 88.