Vija Celmins retrospective at Fondation Beyeler explores six decades of re-describing reality

In June, the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen, near Basel, will unveil a significant retrospective of Vija Celmins, which will continue until 21 September. This exhibition showcases a substantial selection of her work spanning six decades, encompassing printmaking, drawing, painting, and sculpture. Celmins's artistic approach involves revisiting and reinterpreting imagery from the natural world, primarily sourced from photographs, such as night skies and seascapes. Notably, her sculptural installation To Fix the Image in Memory (1977–82) features 11 pairs of pebbles, with one in each pair being a hand-painted bronze replica. Early works from the 1960s reflect her life in Los Angeles, while later pieces, including the Snowfall paintings (2022–24) and Cane (2023), highlight her ongoing exploration of form and memory. The exhibition catalogue also notes a 2015 show at the Secession in Vienna and includes her insightful notebook entries.