This August, Hauser & Wirth Basel presents a solo exhibition dedicated to the work of Swiss artist Irène Zurkinden (1909 – 1987). Born in Basel, Zurkinden defied easy categorisation, developing a distinctive painterly language that drew on both Surrealism and Neo-Impressionism. 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. Spanning the early 1930s to the 1980s, the exhibition brings together paintings and works on paper that reveal the duality at the heart of the artist's career.
After enrolling at art school in Basel at the age of 16, Zurkinden moved to Paris in 1929 with her friend Meret Oppenheim. She would spend much of her life between Paris and Basel, absorbing the cultural currents of both cities. In 1942, she joined the Basel-based anti-fascist artists’ collective Gruppe 33. Despite her singular vision, her contribution to twentieth-century art remains comparatively overlooked.
Irène Zurkinden in her studio © Estate Irène Zurkinden. Photo: S. Zurkinden
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.
Current Exhibitions
Destiny Is a Rose: The Eileen Harris Norton Collection
24 February – 16 August 2026
Downtown Los Angeles
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