The old building houses the permanent exhibition with paintings, graphic art, and sculptures from the different creative phases of the artist. The collection is rounded off by documents from the life of Max Ernst. White walls and light wooden flooring create a bright atmosphere. Most of the gallery rooms are naturally lit through the windows. Semi-transparent roller blinds dim the incoming daylight to a level that is conducive to the proper conservation of the works.

This natural basic lighting is complemented by a classic gallery lighting concept: ERCO tracks are fitted with Optec spotlights and wallwashers to set off the exhibits by means of accent lighting. The central, former "dance hall" with well-known, large sculptures such as the figure ensemble "Capricorn" (photo left) is also fitted with Lightcast low-voltage halogen downlights for glare-free general lighting.