Made in Linz
A Centre of Trade, Industry and Crafts
Various products made in Linz, second half of the 19th century to today 
Toy store Ed. Zechel, Landstraße Linz 
Boy with Haaspulver mascot at the trade exhibition in the Linz Brückenkopf building, 1946 
The Linz Consumers’ Cooperative opens Austria’s first supermarket in Linz, Wienerstraße, 1950 
Katharina Gruzei, Bodies of Work 3 (Workers at the Linz Shipyard), 2011 
Poster from the “Linz lebt auf” image campaign by Haslinger, Keck, 1989
From small one-man businesses to companies employing thousands of workers, the economic landscape of Linz is multifaceted and constantly undergoing change. This evolutionary process can be traced from early industrial operations such as the 17th-century woolen goods factory [Wolllzeugfabrik] to the innovative start-ups of the present day.
Made in Linz is dedicated to a special selection of regional products from trade, industry and crafts. This exemplary assortment spans a period of more than 175 years – from Niemetz Schweden bomben (chocolate- coated marshmallow foam) and Keli fizzy drinks to businesses with international operations such as Rosenbauer and Dynatrace. What all of these have in common, however, are their topographical and historical ties to the city of Linz.
The exhibition chronicles the history of prominent businesses through a series of compact stations while also placing the spotlight on the individuals behind them: founders with a pioneering spirit, family businesses operating across generations, and companies that went on to become major employers in the city. A colonial goods store from Urfahr dating back to 1913, models of large factory complexes, and contemporary interviews provide context for the subject matter in addition to a vast array of products.
The display offers a glimpse into the creative cosmos of the city and reveals a vibrant picture of economic endeavour in Linz, ultimately aiming to bolster awareness of the rich diversity of the home market.
Curators: Andrea Bina, Michaela Nagl
Collaboration: Julia Brunner, Lisa Schmidt
Exhibition Design: ANY:TIME Architekten
Graphic Design: Verena Hochleitner
Publication
A publication of the same title is being released to accompany the exhibition by Verlag Anton Pustet, Salzburg.
Edited by Andrea Bina and Michaela Nagl. With texts by Stefan Groh, Johannes Jetschgo, Michael John, Roman Sandgruber and Anna Tratter, as well as contributions by Andrea Bina, Julia Brunner, Tobias Hagleitner, Klaudia Kreslehner, Michaela Nagl, Sebastian Piringer, Lisa Schmidt and Georg Wilbertz.
Graphic design: Verena Hochleitner
352 pages, €34
Artists
Leo Adler, Karl Czap, Gregor Graf, Katharina Gruzei, Wilhelm Höhnel, Anton Kehrer, Ulrich Kehrer, Johann Matthias Krinner, Hans Lang, Franz Michalek, Alfons Ortner, Josef Pausch, Erwin Rachbauer, Christian Schepe, Alois Schwarz, Ferdinand Weeser-Krell, Eduard Wiesinger, Hans Wöhrl, Reinhard Zach
Cooperation
The exhibition is supported by the WKO Upper Austrian Economic Chamber Linz-City, the Office of the City Government | Economy, Innovation, Climate Protection and EU Affairs, and the Kaufmann Museum Haslach.
The afo architekturforum oberösterreich is realizing the exhibition Linz…at Work (9 April – 26 June 2026) in cooperation with the University of Arts Linz (studio städtebau department).
| Date | Title | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 26.03 | Eröffnung: Made in Linz Eröffnung der Ausstellung “Made in Linz. Standort für Handel, Industrie und Handwerk.”. | 7:00 pm–9:00 pm |
Guided Tours
| Date | Title | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 11.04 | Guided tour in Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS) of the exhibition Made in Linz Guided tours with a sign language interpreter in Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS). Duration: 1 hour. Free of charge for people with hearing impairments. No registration required. | 4:00 pm–5:00 pm |
| Thu 23.04 | Made in Linz: Making-of Andrea Bina and Michaela Nagl guide visitors through the exhibition they curated and talk about its development. Special guests: Christina Leitner and Beatrix Unger (Kaufmann Museum Haslach / Textile Centre Haslach). Guided tour ticket €4 plus admission. Registration requested at +43 732 7070 1912 or online. | 6:30 pm–7:30 pm |
| Thu 01.10 | Made in Linz: Exhibition tour with a focus on exhibition design Jürgen Haller and Christoph Weidinger (ANY:TIME Architekten), together with Verena Hochleitner (graphic designer), present approaches and ideas for the design and realization of exhibitions, using Made in Linz as an example. Guided tour ticket €4 plus admission. Registration requested at +43 732 7070 1912 or online. | 6:00 pm–7:00 pm |
Workshops
| Date | Title | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 16.04 | Made in Linz: Leather Workshop Design your own leather pouch or foldable wallet? Shoemaker Siegfried Hain makes it possible and “brings his workshop to the Nordico.” Sustainably produced leather will be used and can be customized with special dyes. During the crafting process, the founder of Linz’s first shoe museum will share fascinating insights into his trade and the art of leatherworking. Cost: €29 (50% reduced for children up to 16) plus material costs (€15 per item). Registration required at +43 732 7070 1912 or online. | 5:00 pm–8:00 pm |
| Fri 22.05 | Made in Linz: Stanitzel Workshop Who still remembers the good old paper cones once used to hand over sweets like boiled candies, roasted almonds, and other treats across the shop counter? In this workshop, we take inspiration from colorful candy hues to print our own patterns on paper, which we then cut and fold into traditional Stanitzel (paper cones). At the end, everyone goes home with a self-designed cone filled to the brim with sweets. Cost: €7 per person (Families: first person €7, each additional person €3) for materials and sweet fillings. Registration required at +43 732 7070 1912 or online. | 4:00 pm–6:00 pm |
Excursions
| Date | Title | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 08.05 | Made in Linz Excursion: Off to Bischofstraße We head to nearby Bischofstraße and learn more about the businesses located there: Antiquitäten zum Taubenschlag (Kajetan Mayrwöger), ARGE Trödlerladen (formerly Zuckerl Schwager), the Shoe Museum / shoemaker Siegfried Hain, violin maker Franz Übelhör, as well as MASI Knitwear on Waltherstraße. Cost: €7 plus museum admission. Meeting point: Nordico ticket desk. Registration required at +43 732 7070 1912 or online. | 3:00 pm–4:00 pm |
| Fri 12.06 | Made in Linz Excursion: Off to Wienerstraße On Wienerstraße, we first visit the traditional Strandl bookbindery, in operation since 1935 and the last of its kind in Linz. Afterwards, we stop at the multiple award-winning SOMA Social Market. Cost: €7 plus museum admission. Meeting point: Nordico ticket desk. Registration required at +43 732 7070 1912 or online. | 3:00 pm–5:00 pm |
| Fri 11.09 | Made in Linz: Beer Excursion Together with Austria Guide and beer sommelier Andreas Stieber, we visit the Linz Beer Brewery at the Tabakfabrik and learn more about the history of brewing in Linz. A small tasting is included. Cost: €7 plus museum admission. Meeting point: Nordico ticket desk. Registration required at +43 732 7070 1912 or online. | 3:00 pm–5:00 pm |