Meret Oppenheim

Curator: Josef Helfenstein
Artists: Meret Oppenheim

Meret Oppenheim (1913–1985), a German-born Swiss artist, is one of the most original and dynamic figures in 20th-century art. Although associated with major movements such as Surrealism and Dada, Oppenheim consistently resists categorisation. Her boundary-crossing practice—spanning painting, drawing, sculpture, and design—is presented in a new exhibition at Hauser & Wirth Basel this June.

Oppenheim’s work, characterised by wit and intellectual independence, engages critically with questions of identity and sexuality—issues that remain relevant today. Curated in close collaboration with curator and art historian Josef Helfenstein, the exhibition features works from the 1930s to the 1970s, including several rarely seen pieces.