Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Tomi-Ungerer Museum – International Centre for Illustration, located in the Greiner villa built in 1884 in Strasbourg, houses an exceptional fund left by the artist Tomi Ungerer (1931-2019). This native Strasbourger, recognized as one of the greatest illustrators of the last fifty years, has offered his hometown thousands of drawings, archives, toys and magazines since 1975. The villa, renovated and located near Place Broglie in the German imperial district, was transformed into a 700 m2 museum space, inaugurated on November 2, 2007, after decades of project.

The interior architecture of the museum is distinguished by a dominant white (walls, floors, stairs), aesthetic choice that divides visitors. A winding ramp, designed by architect Emmanuel Combarel, crosses the garden to facilitate access to all audiences, also evoking the "sinuous spirit" of Tomi Ungerer. The works are presented on a renewed course every four months on three levels, highlighting the diversity of its graphic production.

The collection, initiated in 1975 and enriched by successive donations until 2008, now has 14,000 drawings by Tomi Ungerer, 3,500 antique toys, 1,600 drawings by other illustrators and a specialized library. Since March 2008, all drawings have been available online for free consultation. This museum, labeled Musée de France, is distinguished by its unique foundation in France, combining modern art, history and decorative arts, while celebrating the legacy of a major artist of the twentieth century.

Villa Greiner, a former bourgeois residence, successively housed municipal services before its conversion. Its location, close to the Janus Fountain (drawing by Ungerer) and the Place de la République, highlights its anchoring in the Strasbourg heritage. The museum thus illustrates the link between contemporary creation, local memory and historical architecture, while offering an immersive experience in the subversive and poetic universe of its eponymous artist.

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