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About the Fondation Beyeler

The Fondation Beyeler is a museum of modern and contemporary art open 365 days a year. It is considered one of the world's most beautiful museums. Its exhibitions of renowned artists of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries have brought the museum international recognition and established it as one of the most popular art museums in Switzerland. The focus is the visitor's personal and sensory experiences in encountering art and nature.

The art museum is located in an English park with a historical villa, old trees, and water lily ponds. The museum building, designed by award-winning Italian architect Renzo Piano, fits elegantly into the cultural landscape and offers beautiful views of the park, cornfields, grazing cows and sheep, as well as the vineyards at the foothills of the Black Forest. The spacious rooms showcase the art in the most beautiful natural light. A green conservatory invites you to linger and read. The Fondation Beyeler combines nature, art, and architecture in a unique harmony.
 

It presents high-quality art to a wide audience and seeks especially to reach young people. This was especially important to the founders, Ernst and Hildy Beyeler. It was for this reason that they founded the Beyeler Stiftung in 1982 and in 1997 opened the Fondation Beyeler in their hometown of Riehen near Basel. They gave the Fondation their valuable art collection and donated the renowned museum building by Renzo Piano to house it. Since the founder's death, the Beyeler Foundation is overseen by the Board of Trustees, presided by Hansjörg Wyss. Sam Keller has been the director of the Fondation Beyeler since 2008. The Beyeler Stiftung recently acquired the neighboring Iselin-Weber-Park and is planning an extension with Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. 

More information about the history of the Fondation Beyeler


The Beyeler Collection is presented several times a year in rotating exhibitions. It comprises roughly 400 works of post-impressionism, classic modern and contemporary art, and 30 ethnographic art objects from Africa, Oceania, and Alaska. The collection is researched and maintained by the Fondation's own team of conservators and restorers. The museum also houses works on permanent loan from artists and associated collections such as the Daros Collection, the Collection Renard, and Anthax Collection Marx.

Works in the Beyeler Collection


The Fondation Beyeler regularly organizes exhibitions dedicated to the great masters of modern art and the major artists of our time. Thematic exhibitions about cities and art movements that played a decisive role in the development of modern art are presented periodically. Projects with contemporary artists are also realized every year in the museum and in public spaces. The Fondation Beyeler regularly cooperates with leading international museums and cultural institutions.

More about the exhibitions and public art projects


Cultural events and art mediation expand the array of offerings and make art more easily accessible. The Fondation's diverse program includes artist talks, concerts, dance performances, recitals, lectures, panel discussions, cabaret, and film screenings. Internationally acclaimed artists, scientists, musicians, dancers, actors, directors, and other personalities are regularly invited as guests. Guided tours, workshops, and games for young people, families, schools, companies, clubs, and groups are also offered daily.

More information about what's on and art mediation


The Fondation Beyeler is funded and supported by contributions from the Beyeler Foundation, the Hansjörg Wyss Foundation, sponsoring partners, patrons, members of the Friends of the Fondation Beyeler, subsidies from the Canton Basel-Stadt and the Community of Riehen, project contributions from the Canton Basel-Landschaft, and especially by visitor admission fees.

Information about our partners


The Fondation Beyeler is an open and active museum that promotes access to art, cultural education and experiences, as well as interpersonal encounters. The restaurant and the museum shop contribute to this as well. Since its opening in 1997, over 7 million people have visited the museum: half from Switzerland, the other half from its neighboring countries and around the world. The Fondation Beyeler's website provides insight into the collections and activities. It also includes films, photographs, and texts about artists, exhibitions, events, art mediation, restoration, publications, editions, and other projects.
 

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