The Henkel Collection combines in an unusual fashion artworks from diverse cultures. It elucidates connections between the world of form on five continents, thus attaining quality and intensity. The most important works in the collection are presented to the public in two volumes in the form of extensive picture essays. The first volume contains classic modern art and art of the twentieth century with a special emphasis on American abstract colour field painting as well as post-war German art.

The second volume presents artefacts and textiles from Africa, Asia, North America, Mesoamerica and Oceania. This art is allocated to the field ethnology. In this picture essay, the ensemble assembled by Gabriele Henkel for Henkel AG & Co. KGaA over the course of more than thirty years is convincingly presented.