ZURICH.- Iwan Wirth, Manuela Wirth, and Marc Payot, co-presidents of
Hauser & Wirth, today announced the opening of a new space in Zurich. Hauser & Wirth Rämistrasse will open on 9 July in Zurichs historic central cultural district, on the same street as Hauser & Wirth Publishers HQ which opened last year. The new space complements its landmark location in the former Löwenbrau brewery and is a natural extension of the gallerys presence across Switzerland.
Hauser & Wirth Rämistrasse is surrounded by renowned establishments which have hosted an international community of artists and intellectuals for more than a century, including Zurichs Schauspielhaus, Kunsthaus, Opera House, Kronenhalle, and Café Odeon. The historic building is adjacent to a public courtyard garden and one of the most important baroque houses in Zurich, Haus zum Garten. The new venue joins Hauser & Wirths five existing spaces in Switzerland in Zurich, St. Moritz and Gstaad and Hauser & Wirth Publishers HQ. The building was initially converted into offices and private viewing rooms in 2018 and will now open as an exhibition space.
Iwan Wirth says, Opening this space to the public in the cultural heart of Zurich allows us to create intimate encounters with art of extraordinary calibre which is so important in this moment. Since we founded our first gallery in Zurich close to three decades ago, we have gradually grown our network of spaces in Switzerland. The vibrant Swiss art scene draws collectors from around the world, and we are proud to contribute to this ecosystem of outstanding museums, institutions, private collections and galleries. Our new gallery is our second space on Rämistrasse, following the launch of Hauser & Wirth Publishers HQ, and it perfectly complements our programmes in our existing Zurich galleries in the renowned Löwenbräu building.
The inaugural exhibition at Hauser & Wirth Rämistrasse will present works by Georges Vantongerloo, the Belgian artist, architect, and theorist, and a member of the De Stijl group. Curated by Dr. Angela Thomas Schmid, President of the Max Bill Georges Vantongerloo Stiftung, the exhibition traces Vantongerloos artistic evolution throughout his five-decade career. This focused presentation will be accompanied by a display of archival material and books on Vantongerloo and his contemporaries at Hauser & Wirth Publishers HQ at Rämistrasse 5.
The conversion of the three-story building into a gallery space with viewing rooms was overseen by long-standing collaborator, the architect Luis Laplace. Laplace has worked on numerous Hauser & Wirth projects, including Vieux Chalet in Gstaad; the gallery in St. Moritz; the restoration and conversion of Hauser & Wirth Somersets 18th-century farm buildings into an art centre; and the creation of an art centre on Isla del Rey in Menorca which is currently underway. In each location, the goal is to create strong, well-proportioned spaces that place the art on view at the forefront.
Hauser & Wirth Rämistrasses series of exhibitions and events will feature 20th-century masters and contemporary artists represented by the gallery. As in each of the gallerys locations, exhibitions will be accompanied by talks and collaborations with local organisations.