30+ years in the art world: as long as it lasts…
+30 anys al món de l’art: mentre duri…
Keynote speech
Monday, 20 January | 10.00–11.15
Victos Gisler, Owner, Mai 36 Galerie, Zurich
In conversation with Georgina Adam, Art Market Author and Journalist, The Art Newspaper & Financial Times, London
With a background in economics and business, Victor Gisler started his journey in the art world at his 27, when he founded the first space for his Mai 36 Galerie in Lucerne. His goal, in his own words, “has always been to exhibit art that I care about deeply, that is new to Switzerland, relevant for the time we live in, and global in its dialogue.” In 1996 the gallery moved to Zurich, near the Kunsthaus at Rämistrasse 37, its location ever since. Over the years, Gisler has been playing a key role in the international art scene and has developed one of the most respected careers in the European gallery world. He has been engaged in showing and promoting a wide programme of international contemporary artists, while remaining committed to a large group of artists he exhibited during the gallery’s foundational years. Among them, John Baldessari, Stephan Balkenhol, Troy Brauntuch, Matt Mullican, Thomas Ruff and Lawrence Weiner. Gisler has strived to work in close collaboration with the artists and continuously present their works in solo exhibitions, publications, as well as at the international art fairs of Basel, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, London, Paris, Madrid and Mexico.
Having recently celebrated his 30 years in the run, Victor Gisler will talk about his path as a gallerist, will share “the difficulties to keep the lights on” at the mid-level and will give his vision of the current gallery landscape.