Kunsthalle (Art Gallery), Bern

The Bern Art Gallery (Kunsthalle Bern), located on Helvetiaplatz in Bern, is renowned for showcasing contemporary art. Founded in 1918, the institution is dedicated to presenting a diverse array of artworks by emerging and established artists, both locally and globally. Over more than a century, the gallery has solidified its reputation as a significant venue for contemporary art exhibitions. Its historical significance and innovative approach have made it an essential study resource for twentieth-century exhibition history.

This internationally acclaimed gallery gained prominence through solo exhibitions by notable artists like On Kawara, Paul Klee, Christo, Alberto Giacometti, Jasper Johns, and Sol LeWitt, among others. Harald Szeemann’s groundbreaking 1969 group exhibition, "Live In Your Head: When Attitudes Become Form," remains a seminal moment in curatorial history, influencing subsequent generations of curators and artists alike. The impact of this exhibition has been revisited in recent years through various shows, including those at Fondazione Prada and the Art Gallery itself.

In 1968, on the institution's 50th anniversary, it became the first building ever to be entirely wrapped by Christo and Jeanne-Claude, highlighting the Art Gallery’s pioneering spirit.

The Bern Art Gallery collaborates regularly with local institutions, such as the Bern University of the Arts (HKB) and the Institute of Art History at the University of Bern, to engage in the discourse surrounding contemporary art and its societal implications. It remains a vibrant space for the production, presentation, and mediation of contemporary art, forging new paths and engaging future generations through its innovative programs.