While known for its banks, watches, and neutral politics, there are also world class art galleries in Switzerland.
For art historians, Switzerland is one of the leading proponents of Modern art particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Switzerland is the birthplace of many renowned artists such as Arnold Bocklin, Ferdinand Hodler, Felix Vallotton, and Paul Klee.
Swiss art is also credited with introducing the movement called Dadaism which essentially ran contrary to the non-confrontational values that were long associated with the Swiss.
Witness the evolution of Modern art in Switzerland by visiting the top art galleries in our list.
Koetser Gallery
The Koetser family has been in the art gallery business before World War I broke out. In 1923, the family patriarch, Henri Koetser, relocated the family to London. The gallery transferred to its present location in Zurich in 1967.
It is being managed by David who is third-generation Koetser. David Koetser is a founding member of the prestigious The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht.
The masterpieces of Rubens, Frans Hals, Aelbert Cuyp, Jan Van Der Cappelle, and Jan Lievens have been managed by the Koetser Gallery. One of these paintings by Jan Lievens can be seen at the National Gallery in Washington, DC.
The Koetser Gallery has been involved in fine art exhibitions such as TEFAF Maastricht, Frieze Masters in London, Paris Tableau in France.
David and his wife have donated more than 70 Italian, Dutch and Flemish Old Master paintings to the Kunsthaus in Zurich.
Address: Talstrasse 37, CH-8001 Zurich, Switzerland
Galerie Gmurzynska
Galerie Gmurzynska was founded in 1965 by Antonina Gmurzynska. However, its location was in Cologne, Germany. In 1993, Antonina opened a second gallery in Zurich, Switzerland.
Initially, the gallery was focused on Japanese art from the 14th century to the 19th century.
Then, it expanded the gallery’s coverage to include works by French masters such as Pierre Bonnard and Russian avant-garde artist, David Burliuk.
In the 1970s, the gallery included works of art from the styles of Surrealism and international Constructivism.
Eventually, the gallery caught on to Modern art with exhibitions dedicated to Pablo Picasso, Kurt Schwitters, Fernand Leger, and Lyonel Feininger.
Galerie Gmurzynska is a regular participant at ArtBasel in Switzerland, ArtBasel in Miami, ArtBasel in Hong Kong, TEFAF New York Spring, and the EXPO in Chicago. It has also participated in FIAC, Frieze, and PAD London and New York.
Address: Paradeplatz 2, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Mai 36 Galerie
Victor Gisler founded the Mai 36 Galerie in 1987. For over 2 decades, the gallery has featured the artworks of Contemporary artists such as John Baldessari, Stephan Balkenhol, Troy Brauntuch, Pia Fries, Matt Mullican, Christophe Rutimann, Thomas Ruff, Lawrence Weiner, and Remy Zaugg.
In addition, the gallery has been entrusted with the masterpieces of Luigi Ghirri, Peter Hujar, General Idea, Christian Lindow, Robert Mapplethorpe, Paul Thek, and Daan Van Golden by the artists’ respective estates.
Mai 36 Galerie can be found as a participant in the most distinguished art fairs like ArtBasel in Switzerland, Miami Beach and in Hong Kong, Frieze London, FIAC Paris, ARCOMadrid, and Zona Maco Mexico City.
Address: Rämistrasse 37, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland