The Darmstadt Artists' Colony was a group of Art Nouveau artists who worked and lived in Darmstadt, Germany, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The group was established by Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig von Hessen in 1899 to create an alternative to the prevailing historicism and to bring together artists, craftsmen, and architects who would collaborate on modern, functional designs. The members of the colony included Peter Behrens, Joseph Maria Olbrich, and Albin Müller, among others.
The Darmstadt Artists' Colony was responsible for a number of important buildings and designs, including the Mathildenhöhe exhibition hall and the Hochzeitsturm (Wedding Tower) in Darmstadt, both of which were designed by Olbrich. The group also designed furniture, decorative objects, and other items that were exhibited at the Mathildenhöhe exhibition hall.
The Darmstadt Artists' Colony was a leading force in the development of Art Nouveau, or Jugendstil, in Germany. The group's emphasis on functional design and the integration of art and technology would influence modernist movements throughout the 20th century. Today, many of the buildings and objects created by the Darmstadt Artists' Colony are considered important examples of Art Nouveau design and are protected as historic landmarks.