Open Relationship: Contemporary Collection

In its Gegenwart building, Kunstmuseum Basel presents a selection of artworks from its renowned contemporary holdings, including pieces from the museum’s own collection, the Emanuel Hoffmann Foundation, and Kunstkredit Basel-Stadt. Some of these works were created specifically for this pioneering space, which opened in 1980 as one of the world’s first dedicated museums for contemporary art.

The exhibition brings together diverse artistic voices to address today’s most pressing questions—at times with critical intensity, at others with playful nuance. Artists based in Basel, Berlin, Cape Town, Mexico City, New Delhi, and other global centres invite reflection on the social, ecological, and personal conditions that shape our lives.

Through a wide range of media, the artworks examine how we construct reality, form collective and personal narratives, and experience the world through both visual and non-visual means. They investigate the relationship between individuals and communities and the power of images in shaping perception.

Alongside the exhibition, a dynamic programme of events in the recently inaugurated Studio Gegenwart offers further opportunities for engagement. Together, the display and its programming open up the collection to new interpretations, revealing its underlying structures, overlooked gaps, and future potential.