Text by Quinn Latimer, Marie-Eve Celio-Scheurer, Florian Illies, Rebecca Eigen, Reto Thüring, Raphael Suter.
Fusing Parisian chic with Swiss design sensibility, Zurkinden's paintings and sketchbooks bridge the gap between impressionism and the avant-garde
Swiss artist Irène Zurkinden (1909–87) trained as a fashion illustrator in Basel before turning to the visual arts. A leading figure of the city's cultural scene, she spent her life between Basel and Paris—the city of her dreams. Her paintings and drawings bear witness to a unique view of society and her personal surroundings, from chic portraits of her friends and neighbors to dreamy pastel and watercolor interiors. True to the grace and beauty that define Zurkinden's work, the exhibition Love, Life and its corresponding publication highlight the visual allure of her art as both intimate and powerfully expressive. Never-before-published reproductions of her sketchbooks, spanning 50 years of her creative process, offer her frank, unfiltered views of her world.
STATUS: Forthcoming | 6/2/2026
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Published by Hatje Cantz. Text by Quinn Latimer, Marie-Eve Celio-Scheurer, Florian Illies, Rebecca Eigen, Reto Thüring, Raphael Suter.
Fusing Parisian chic with Swiss design sensibility, Zurkinden's paintings and sketchbooks bridge the gap between impressionism and the avant-garde
Swiss artist Irène Zurkinden (1909–87) trained as a fashion illustrator in Basel before turning to the visual arts. A leading figure of the city's cultural scene, she spent her life between Basel and Paris—the city of her dreams. Her paintings and drawings bear witness to a unique view of society and her personal surroundings, from chic portraits of her friends and neighbors to dreamy pastel and watercolor interiors. True to the grace and beauty that define Zurkinden's work, the exhibition Love, Life and its corresponding publication highlight the visual allure of her art as both intimate and powerfully expressive. Never-before-published reproductions of her sketchbooks, spanning 50 years of her creative process, offer her frank, unfiltered views of her world.
