The history of the Kunsthalle Recklinghausen, opened in a former bunker at the main station in 1950, is closely linked to the "junger westen" (young west) artist group formed 2 years earlier. Their examination of abstraction, which soon led to a free way of dealing with colour and form for some of its members, turned the group into a nucleus for the German Informel movement. Recklinghausen quickly became a highly debated exhibition location for artists working in West Germany. In 1948, the city of Recklinghausen founded the "junger westen" art prize, awarded to the best work from the group’s annual exhibition including guests. It has been awarded since 1956 – in 2009 it was awarded for the 32nd time. The list of winners includes names such as K.O. Götz, Emil Schumacher and Ernst Hermanns, Heinrich, Siepmann, HAP Grieshaber and Emil Cimiotti, Horst Antes, Erich Hauser and Gerhard Richter, Michel Sauer and Ansgar Nierhoff, Matthias Mansen, Stefan Kern and Susanne Paesler, Ulrich Genth, Peter Piller and Gereon Krebber. This kaleidoscope of names represents a small part of German art history from 1945 to the present day and the acquired works of the prize winners form the focal point of the Kunsthalle Recklinghausen. Another focal point is a collection of German Informel works as well as a concentrated collection of kinetic objects.

In addition to the Ruhrfestspiele exhibition, each year the museum uses its three floors to put on four to five extra exhibitions – primarily showing art from the second modern period and present day art. Furthermore, the Kunsthalle is also dedicated to icon painting as well as naive and outsider art.