Swiss gallerist Bruno Bischofberger dies at 86, remembered for Warhol-Basquiat collaboration

Bruno Bischofberger, a prominent Swiss collector and gallerist, passed away at the age of 86. He was born in Zurich in 1940 and established his first gallery, City-Galerie, in 1963. In 1965, he played a pivotal role in bringing American Pop Art to Europe, showcasing artists such as Warhol, Lichtenstein, Rauschenberg, Oldenburg, Wesselmann, and Johns. His gallery later embraced Minimalism and Conceptual Art, featuring LeWitt, Judd, Flavin, Nauman, and Kosuth. In the 1980s, he supported Neo-Expressionism and artists like Basquiat. His collaboration with Warhol began in 1966, resulting in a first-refusal agreement that lasted until Warhol's passing in 1987. Bischofberger discovered Basquiat in 1981 and facilitated their partnership, and he was also a co-founder of Interview magazine in 1969.