The first part of the permanent exhibition offers an overview of art in the 19th century up to the interwar period, with an emphasis on works by Austrian and in particular Styrian artists. In the process, lines of development are presented in loose chronology, as are trends and outstanding individual positions. The exhibition spans essential movements of Austrian art history such as Biedermeier, Historicism, Atmospheric Realism, regional forms of Jugendstil and positions of Classical Modernism such as Expressionism and New Objectivity [Neue Sachlichkeit]. The exhibition thus outlines on the one hand the contours of a home-grown art topography, the finest exponents of which were aligned with international art events of the period, while reflecting the many-faceted profile of the collection on the other.

The second part of the permanent exhibition on the upper floor begins with positions which, linking up to Classical Modernism and engaging with contemporary trends, set out to find a direction for art after 1945. With the trigon Biennales, which gathered the most advanced trends from Austria and its neighbouring countries, Graz developed into a centre of the avant-garde from the 1960s onwards. An essential part of the exhibition is taken up by painting, which was a key determining factor in Austrian art in the 1980s --- though also in early years, and up to the present day. In addition works of art of both local and international relevance from photography and sculpture complement this collection-specific survey of contemporary art.

In addition to a permanent exhibition space, the BRUSEUM is being expanded into a scientific competence center dedicated to preserving central parts of Günter Brus' artistic oeuvre for the public as well as to scientific research into his works. The archive of the Neue Galerie Graz also has Austrian art and artist documentation dating back to the 19th century and comprising around 14,000 register folders with various types of prints, photographs, press articles, correspondence, autographs, artistic sketch material as well as films and videos.

In the Joanneum Quarter, the archive will be equipped with modern research stations. The Neue Galerie's specialist library, which contains more than 55,000 media units, also reflects the focus of the collection and offers all interested parties comprehensive opportunities for academic study.