Kulturstiftung Basel H. Geiger Unveils Irène Zurkinden Retrospective
The Kulturstiftung Basel H. Geiger is showcasing 'Irène Zurkinden: Love, Life', an exhibition dedicated to Swiss artist Irène Zurkinden (1909–1987), featuring her paintings, drawings, and notebooks. Beginning her studies at the Basel School of Art in 1925, Zurkinden relocated to Paris in 1929, where she immersed herself in a vibrant culture and formed relationships with both men and women, including Meret Oppenheim. In 1934, she met jazz musician Kurt Fenster and had two children. Her creative output continued until 1941, when the Nazi occupation compelled her to return to Basel. After the war, she split her time between Basel and Paris, working on costume design and book illustrations. Her art reflects a fusion of Impressionism, Expressionism, and Surrealism, encapsulating transient moments and the evolving scenery prior to WWII.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Irène Zurkinden: Love, Life' at Kulturstiftung Basel H. Geiger
- Zurkinden lived 1909–1987
- Studied at Basel School of Art from 1925
- Moved to Paris in 1929 with Arnold Fiechter
- Had relationships with men and women, including Meret Oppenheim
- Met Kurt Fenster in 1934, had two children
- Described as 'living Toulouse-Lautrec' by Christoph Bernoulli
- Returned to Basel in 1941 due to Nazi occupation
- Joined Group 33 in 1942
- Designed costumes and sets for Stadttheater Basel
- Painted portraits, nudes, landscapes, and still lifes
- Influenced by Impressionism, Expressionism, New Objectivity, Surrealism
- Works include 'Meret à l'orange'
- Anticipated artists like Cecily Brown and George Condo
- Traveled to Morocco, Spain, Italy
Entities
Artists
- Irène Zurkinden
- Meret Oppenheim
- Arnold Fiechter
- Kurt Fenster
- Christoph Bernoulli
- Cecily Brown
- George Condo
Institutions
- Kulturstiftung Basel H. Geiger
- Basel School of Art
- Group 33
- Stadttheater Basel
Locations
- Basel
- Switzerland
- Paris
- France
- Berlin
- Germany
- Venice
- Italy
- Morocco
- Spain