Top-class art is no longer only to be found in state museums. More and more private collectors are presenting their treasures, often in architecturally spectacular spaces, always accompanied by considerable financial investment. finews.art features some of the most popular places of pilgrimage for art lovers.
By Dominik Buholzer
1. Nicola Erni Collection, Zug
Over twenty years ago, Nicola Erni began collecting contemporary art and photography. Initially for personal enjoyment, now for her museum. In 2013, the wife of Partners Group co-founder Marcel Erni opened the first art house in Steinhausen near Zug, and recently, a golden second building (pictured above) was added.
What can be seen in these two buildings leaves many in awe: artists such as Richard Avedon, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Maurizio Cattelan, Peter Lindbergh, Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, Paolo Roversi, Julian Schnabel, and Andy Warhol are represented. In the case of Basquiat, it is said to be one of the world's largest, if not the largest, collection.
Exhibitions can only be visited with guided tours on selected days. Dates are announced on the last Monday of each month. Those fortunate enough can secure one of the free but personalized tickets.
2. Boros Collection, Berlin
The distinctive block in the heart of Berlin has had many purposes. Built by the Nazis, the «Reichsbunker Friedrichstrasse» fell into Soviet hands after the war. They used it as a war prison before it became the «Banana Bunker,» a storage facility for fruits from Cuba. Techno took over in 1992, and due to its fetish and fantasy parties, the «Bunker» was considered the world's toughest club.
Even a sex fair was held on the premises before media entrepreneur and art patron Christian Boros and his wife Karen Boros (pictured above) purchased the building with its five floors in 2003 to make their collection of contemporary art accessible to the public. The couple works closely with exhibiting artists, some of whom create works specifically for the designated spaces.
The Boros Collection can only be visited with guided tours. Tickets are obtained by getting on the guest list.
3. Hauser & Wirth, Menorca
Opening a gallery in exclusive vacation destinations has never been a bad idea. Iwan and Manuela Wirth of Hauser & Wirth know this well. They have been present in locations like Gstaad and St. Moritz for some time. Now, Menorca (pictured above) has joined the list.
In the summer of 2021, exhibition halls were opened on Isla del Rey in the port of the capital Mahon, in a former hospital of the British Navy and an 18th-century annex. In the garden, visitors can explore a sculpture path and the archaeological remains of a basilica from the 6th century AD.
All of this is complemented by an educational program with presentations, lectures, and workshops on contemporary art and a restaurant. The opening last summer featured works by American artist Mark Bedford, who is currently popular among collectors and investors.
4. Muzeum Susch, Engadin
The Engadin has always been a good habitat for art. With the Muzeum Susch, the region gained a new highlight in 2019. In a short time, Polish art collector, entrepreneur, and billionaire Grażyna Kulczyk (pictured here with artist Not Vital, Image: Keystone) turned the sleepy village of Susch, with its roughly 200 inhabitants at the foot of the Flüelapass, into a hotspot for art lovers.
The museum spans several buildings, including an old monastery and a former brewery connected by an underground passage, aiming to be more than just an exhibition space: it sees itself as a research-based private museum.
The focus is on the role of women and science. As unique as the philosophy, the exhibition concept is also unique. For each exhibition, only 40 to 50 percent comes from Kulczyk's collection to promote exchange with other institutions.
5. Luma Arles, France
In southern France, Roche heiress Maja Hofmann has realized one of the largest private art and cultural projects in Europe: Luma Arles (pictured above, from Shutterstock). On the site of a former marshaling yard, a gigantic art and cultural center has emerged, featuring a spectacular tower designed by star architect Frank Gehry.
The approximately 11,000 aluminum boxes reflect the Provence sky. Luma Arles is not just a museum but also an incubator for culture and ecology. In a workshop, employees search for local resources for new, less environmentally damaging materials.
