Hauser & Wirth will inaugurate its new gallery space in Basel on June 1 with a historical survey of Vilhelm Hammershøi. “Vilhelm Hammershøi. Silence”, marks the first solo exhibition of the 19th-20th century Danish artist in Switzerland. The new gallery is located at Luftgässlein 4 in Basel’s old town, just minutes from the city’s major art institutions Kunsthalle Basel and Kunstmuseum Basel.
Focusing on Hammershøi is a somewhat surprising choice to inaugurate the new breakthrough, given the gallery’s star-studded roster of artists on the market and the lead-up to Art Basel. That said, Hauser & Wirth is well known for its historic and museum-worthy presentations, a tradition that will continue with this show curated by Dr. Felix Krämer, featuring 18 Hammershøi pieces from private collections.
Born in 1864, Hammershøi is renowned for his ability to convey a sense of silence in his paintings. Throughout his career, he focused on capturing this serenity, evident both in his portraits and in detailed interior scenes. The figures in Hammershøi’s portraits often appear engaged in routine work or thought.
“Hammershøi’s work demonstrates a remarkable modernist sensibility that continues to attract new generations of followers who join those immersed in the history of 19th and early 20th century art,” said Carlo Knöll, CEO of Hauser & Wirth. Basel gallery. “His work resonates with today’s international artistic community, European and US museums and institutions, collectors, scholars and living artists. However, despite being an artist of great resonance and nuance, whose works are kept in museum collections around the world, exhibitions dedicated to Hammershøi have been relatively rare.’
Hauser & Wirth’s exhibition will span the period from 1883 to 1914, offering a comprehensive survey of the artist’s work. Hammershøi died of throat cancer in 1916, aged 51.
