Is it an art gallery or a platform for innovation? H\u00e4usler Contemporary in Zurich stands as both. It all began in 1988. Wolfgang H\u00e4usler and Dr. Christa H\u00e4usler founded the gallery in Bregenz Austria. Wolfgang brought 20 years of banking marketing and management experience. Christa offered her expertise as an art historian.
Initially, the gallery focused on corporate collections. Later, they shifted their focus to gallery work. In 1992, H\u00e4usler Contemporary moved to Munich. The increasing importance of Zurich led to a relocation in 2007. Then, in 2020, the gallery business moved entirely to Zurich. Today, H\u00e4usler Contemporary Munich continues as an office for art trade and projects.
H\u00e4usler Contemporary mediates promotes and sells art. Their focus lies on conceptual painting drawing and sculpture. The gallery also engages in art in architecture projects. These projects have resulted in high-profile commissions. Companies and private collectors have benefited from permanent installations. Artists like Brigitte Kowanz James Turrell Hamish Fulton and Keith Sonnier have contributed. H\u00e4usler Contemporary has also published extensively. These publications cover both the projects and the artists they represent.
Since 2018, H\u00e4usler Contemporary has been a member of Galleries Now. The gallery represents a diverse range of artists. Bill Bollinger Hamish Fulton and S\u00e9bastien de Ganay are among them. Mary Heilmann Hubert Kiecol and Harriet Korman add to the gallery’s prestige. Brigitte Kowanz Gary Kuehn and Judy Ledgerwood contribute to the collection. Kyung-Lim Lee Richard Allen Morris and J\u00fcrgen Partenheimer are also featured. Koka Ramishvili Erwin Redl and David Reed bring their unique styles. Alejandra Seeber Roman Signer and Keith Sonnier enhance the gallery’s offerings. James Turrell Michael Venezia and Craig Yu round out the impressive roster.
Notably, H\u00e4usler Contemporary has a strong connection to James Turrell. Wolfgang H\u00e4usler has collaborated with Turrell for over 30 years. They have worked together on ambitious and acclaimed projects. In 2023, H\u00e4usler Contemporary made Turrell its primary focus. The gallery manages two collections showcasing Turrell’s artistic evolution.
H\u00e4usler first met Turrell in the 1990s. Turrell designed the stage for an opera in Paris. The shadowless light deeply impressed H\u00e4usler. Their first collaboration was in 1997. It was for Turrell’s exhibition at Kunsthaus Bregenz.
Turrell’s work incorporates physics mathematics and astronomy. H\u00e4usler finds Turrell’s precision and imagination amazing. Turrell’s installations create sensual spatial illusions. These illusions unfold fully when experienced physically.
Turrell’s stature in the art world has grown significantly. Major exhibitions and the 2011 Venice Biennale amplified his influence. Retrospectives at LACMA and the Guggenheim Museum further solidified his standing. His works are included in major collections worldwide.
One memorable project was commissioned by Munich Re in 2003. It was titled The Inner Way. It visualized Turrell’s concept for a 200-meter-long underground corridor. Architects built a scale model to demonstrate the transformative power of light in space.
H\u00e4usler Contemporary’s focus on Turrell reflects a deep partnership. This partnership includes showcasing his art and facilitating major projects. Examples include the Skyspace in Lech Austria and the Ganzfeld installation in Freising Germany. Recent commissions in Switzerland underscore Turrell’s continuing appeal.
Currently, H\u00e4usler Contemporary features Turrell’s work. This includes First Cause a Small Elliptical Glass. Collectors can also view Deep Waters from the Tall Glass series. Zurich holds a special place in Turrell’s career. He produced his first prints there in 1984.
So here at H\u00e4usler Contemporary, art transcends mere aesthetics. It becomes an immersive encounter. A dialogue between light space and perception. It remains a testament to the enduring power of collaboration and artistic vision.