[1] The Academy was founded in 1854 by Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden, with the landscape painter Johann Wilhelm Schirmer as the first director.
During the Nazi regime, several artists were fired from their teaching positions, due to their art being considered "degenerate".
[2] Post-war heads of the academy include art historian Oskar Gehring (1947/48), Otto Haupt (architect) [de] (1949–1956), art historian Kurt Martin (1956/57), painter Otto Laible [de] (1957/58), and painter Hans Gaensslen (1958–1963).
He also dedicated his estate to a foundation granting awards to graduates of the academy,[7] now referred to as the Kalinowski-Preis ("Kalinowski-prize").
[15] According to the year report for the 2021/2022 semester, 118 students were studying to become art teachers at the time, of which 25 had IMG as their second subject.