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Bruno Bischofberger, Swiss Art Dealer and Early Backer of Basquiat, Dies at 86

other · 2026-05-10

Bruno Bischofberger, a prominent Swiss art dealer renowned for his role in promoting Neo-Expressionism and bringing American Pop artists to Europe, passed away on Saturday at the age of 86. Born in 1940 in Appenzell, he pursued art history and established galleries in Zurich and St. Moritz in 1963. His 1965 exhibition in Zurich showcased works by Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, and Tom Wesselmann. In 1966, he met Andy Warhol and acquired 11 early pieces in 1968, later co-founding Warhol's Interview magazine in 1969. Bischofberger began representing Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982 after discovering him in 1981 and facilitated their collaboration in 1983. The St. Moritz gallery closed in 2015. He is survived by his wife Christina, three daughters, one son, and ten grandchildren.

Key facts

  • Bruno Bischofberger died on Saturday at age 86.
  • He opened his first galleries in Zurich and St. Moritz in 1963.
  • His 1965 Zurich exhibition featured American Pop artists including Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, and Tom Wesselmann.
  • He met Andy Warhol in 1966 and secured first rights to all Warhol's works in 1968.
  • He helped fund Interview magazine with Peter Brant in 1969.
  • He was an early exhibitor at Art Basel from 1970.
  • He began representing Jean-Michel Basquiat in 1982 and facilitated the Warhol-Basquiat collaboration in 1983.
  • The gallery moved to a 250,000-square-foot former car factory in Zurich in 2015.

Entities

Artists

  • Bruno Bischofberger
  • Andy Warhol
  • Jean-Michel Basquiat
  • Roy Lichtenstein
  • Claes Oldenburg
  • Tom Wesselmann
  • Gerhard Richter
  • Frank Stella
  • Sol LeWitt
  • Julian Schnabel
  • George Condo
  • Enzo Cucchi
  • Francesco Clemente
  • Dennis Hopper
  • Cora Bischofberger
  • Nina Baier-Bischofberger
  • Florian Baier
  • Peter Brant
  • Christina Bischofberger
  • Vito Schnabel
  • David Salle
  • Miquel Barceló
  • Dokoupil
  • Peter Halley
  • Mike Bidlo
  • Jean Tinguely
  • Dan Flavin
  • Joseph Kosuth
  • Bruce Nauman
  • Nina Bischofberger
  • Robert Rauschenberg
  • Jasper Johns
  • Donald Judd
  • Yves Klein
  • Daniel Spoerri
  • Magnus Bischofberger

Institutions

  • Galerie Bruno Bischofberger
  • University of Zurich
  • University of Bonn
  • University of Munich
  • Art Basel
  • MoMA PS1
  • Annina Nosei Gallery
  • Tony Shafrazi Gallery
  • Artforum
  • Interview magazine
  • Vito Schnabel Gallery
  • Baierbischofberger Architects
  • City-Galerie
  • Interview
  • Bruno Bischofberger Gallery
  • Fondation Louis Vuitton

Locations

  • Appenzell
  • Switzerland
  • Zurich
  • St. Moritz
  • Engadine
  • New York
  • Queens
  • Zürich
  • Männedorf
  • Bonn
  • Munich
  • Pelikanstrasse
  • Paris
  • France

Sources