ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Swiss Museums in Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds Challenge Cultural Periphery Stereotypes

exhibition · 2026-04-26

In the Swiss Jura, two museums, MBAL – Musée des Beaux-Arts de Le Locle and Musée des Beaux-Arts de La Chaux-de-Fonds, are transforming cultural interaction. Established in 1862, MBAL, under the leadership of director Federica Chiocchetti and associate curator Anna C. Bleuler, boasts a collection dating back to the 17th century. Its exhibition "Attention, Collection," running until September 14, 2025, features works from artists such as Félix Vallotton and Salvador Dalí, alongside pieces like Augusta Lardy Micheli's "Metaxu" and Jonathan Llense's "Par le biais." Meanwhile, the La Chaux-de-Fonds museum, founded in the mid-19th century, showcases solo exhibitions by Agnès Thurnauer and Doris Stauffer until August 24, highlighting painted words and feminist themes.

Key facts

  • MBAL founded in 1862, housed in renovated Art Nouveau building
  • Federica Chiocchetti became director in 2022
  • Exhibition 'Attention, Collection' runs until September 14, 2025
  • Features works by Vallotton, Picasso, Dalí, Goya, Courbet, Matisse
  • Three contemporary artists: Plonk et Replonk-Bébert, Ufuoma Essi, Virginie Delannoy
  • First Swiss institutional show of Augusta Lardy Micheli at MBAL
  • Musée des Beaux-Arts de La Chaux-de-Fonds building designed by L'Eplattenier and Chapallaz in 1926
  • Solo shows by Agnès Thurnauer and Doris Stauffer until August 24

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • MBAL – Musée des Beaux-Arts de Le Locle
  • Musée des Beaux-Arts de La Chaux-de-Fonds
  • Société des Amis des Arts
  • Cercle scolaire du Locle

Locations

  • Le Locle
  • Switzerland
  • La Chaux-de-Fonds
  • Jura mountains
  • Lake Neuchâtel
  • Londres
  • Geneva

Sources