Coinciding with Kunsttage Basel, join us to celebrate the opening of ‘Irène Zurkinden’ at Hauser & Wirth Basel .

Known for commissioned portraits of Basel society, the presentation highlights a more intimate body of work centered on portraits and self-portraits, offering a deeply personal perspective on Zurkinden's life and experiences.

Opening Reception
Thursday 27 August
6 – 8 pm

RSVP is not required

Hauser & Wirth Basel
Luftgässlein 4, Basel
+41 43 547 46 30

Gallery Opening Hours during Kunsttage Basel
Saturday & Sunday, 10 am – 6 pm

About the Artist
Irène Zurkinden (1909 – 1987) was a painter whose work occupied an important place within 20th-century Swiss art. Born in Basel, she studied at the city's School of Applied Arts before travelling to Paris in 1929, where she became closely connected to the city's art scene. Throughout her life, she remained closely connected to both Basel and Paris, where the people, streets and cultural life became important sources of inspiration. Portraits, self-portraits, urban scenes and depictions of everyday life formed the core of her oeuvre, reflecting her close observation of the people and environments around her. Although she was part of the cosmopolitan artistic circles of Paris and maintained close friendships with figures such as Meret Oppenheim, Zurkinden followed her own artistic path. Her work brings together a wide range of subjects and reflects her enduring interest in the people and social worlds that surrounded her. Today, Zurkinden is recognised for her contributions to Swiss art and her work continues to receive renewed attention through exhibitions and research.