Contemporary Art

hefti.extra-large — Raphael Hefti, Message Not Sent, 2020, Kunsthaus Zürich, Vereinigung Zürcher Kunstfreunde, Gruppe Junge Kunst, 2021

mir.large — Aleksandra Mir, Plane Landing, 2001-2023, Kunsthaus Zürich, 2023

manon.large — Manon, Lachgas, 2019, Kunsthaus Zürich, Donation by the artist, 2022

Quayyum.extra-large — Anila Quayyum Agha, A Beautiful Despair, 2023, Kunsthaus Zürich, Vereinigung Zürcher Kunstfreunde, 2023

baltensperger+siepert.extra-large — Baltensperger + Siepert, Ways to Escape One's Former Country / Patterns & Traces, Ways to Escape One's Former Country / Handbook for an Uncertain Migration, Kunsthaus Zürich, 2022

oehlen.large — Albert Oehlen, Untitled, 2017, Kunsthaus Zürich, Vereinigung Zürcher Kunstfreunde, 2021

Anna Boghiguian, Untitled, 2018, Kunsthaus Zürich, 2018, © Anna Boghiguian

Denis, La Loi, 2021 — Raphaël Denis, La Loi normale des erreurs : les transactions Göring-Rochlitz (The Normal Distribution of Errors: The Göring – Rochlitz Transactions), 2021, Kunsthaus Zürich, 2021, © Raphaël Denis

Bernstein, Birth, 2013 — Judith Bernstein, Birth of the Universe #2, 2013, Kunsthaus Zürich, 2020, © Judith Bernstein

Cindy Sherman, Untitled #132, 1984, Kunsthaus Zürich, © 2019 Cindy Sherman

Sigmar Polke, Levitation, 2005, Kunsthaus Zürich, Vereinigung Zürcher Kunstfreunde, © The Estate of Sigmar Polke, Cologne / 2019 ProLitteris, Zurich

Morris, Predicted, 2019 — Sarah Morris, What can be explained can also be predicted, 2019, Kunsthaus Zürich, Donated by Cristina and Thomas W. Bechtler in memory of their daughter Johanna Bechtler, 2019, © Sarah Morris

Danh Vō, We the People (Detail), 2011–2014, Kunsthaus Zürich, purchased with the support of Swiss Re - Partner for contemporary art, 2014, © 2019 Danh Vō, all rights reserved.

Bitnik, shopper, 2014-16 — !Mediengruppe Bitnik, Random Darknet Shopper: Live Edition (St. Gallen), 2014–2016, Kunsthaus Zürich, Eigentum der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft, Bundesamt für Kultur, Bern, 2021, © !Mediengruppe Bitnik

Margolles, Psquisa, 2016 — Teresa Margolles, Pesquisas (Inquiries), 2016, Kunsthaus Zürich, Collection of Photography, 2017, © Teresa Margolles

Shirana_Komposition_2012 — Shirana Shahbazi, [Composition-47-2012], 2012, Kunsthaus Zürich, Collection of Prints and Drawings, Vereinigung Zürcher Kunstfreunde, Gruppe Junge Kunst, 2015, © Shirana Shahbazi

Fischer_Grundstein_2014 — Urs Fischer, 8, 2014 (Grundstein), Kunsthaus Zürich, Geschenk des Künstlers zur Grundsteinlegung des Chipperfield-Baus am 8. November 2016, © Urs Fischer. Mit freundlicher Genehmigung des Künstlers und Sadie Coles HQ, London / Photo: Mats Nordman

Lungiswa Gqunta, Lawn, 2017/2019, Kunsthaus Zürich, Vereinigung Zürcher Kunstfreunde, Gruppe Junge Kunst, 2019, © Lungiswa Gqunta / Foto: Courtesy of WANAS Konst.

Attia, Culture, 2014 — Kader Attia, Culture, Another Nature Repaired, 2014, Kunsthaus Zürich, 2015, © 2020, ProLitteris, Zurich

Contemporary art plays a central role in the history of the Kunsthaus Zürich. The idea of linking past and present has always been essential to the Kunsthaus, in both its exhibitions and its collection. Nowadays, the bulk of acquisitions are still of contemporary art. The new extension by Sir David Chipperfield opens up more space to display these holdings.

« We regularly show and collect works by artists from all different parts of the world. » — Mirjam Varadinis, Curator of Contemporary Art

« Art from outside Europe is becoming increasingly important at the Kunsthaus. » — Mirjam Varadinis, Curator of Contemporary Art

Exhibition view, Pipilotti Rist, Pixelwald Turicum, 2021, Collection Werner and Gabriele Merzbacher, Permanent loan Kunsthaus Zürich.

Photographs, videos and other installations lead the way into the 21st century and include works by artists such as Pipilotti Rist, Urs Fischer and !Mediengruppe Bitnik. The Kunsthaus collection is constantly growing, especially with works that have just been created, and so it surprises again and again with new acquisitions, including those by non-European artists such as Tracey Rose, Teresa Margolles, Anna Boghiguian or Dahn Vō.

Art in the digital space with our Digilab

Many contemporary artists are interested in digital space and reflect in their works such themes as big data, surveillance or access to information. These important themes are also negotiated in the Kunsthaus Digilab, employing artworks especially conceived for the Digilab. In each case, these artworks can be experienced online for three months and are aimed at an art-interested public all around the world.

To the DigiLab

Online collection

Discover the most important paintings, sculptures, installations and graphic works from the Kunsthaus in our online collection. The selection is being continually expanded and complemented by the latest scientific findings. With the generous support of the Federal Office of Culture (FOC).

Go to the online collection