Famous Swiss Sculptors

H. R. Giger was a Swiss artist remembered for his airbrushed images of machines and humans intertwined in cold biomechanical relationships. He is also remembered for his work as part of the special effects team that worked in Ridley Scott's 1979 science fiction horror film Alien, for which the team won an Academy Award. 

Alberto Giacometti was a Swiss painter, sculptor, printmaker, and draftsman. Widely regarded as one of the 20th century's most important sculptors, Giacometti's career and his friendship with American writer James Lord inspired the 2017 British-American drama film Final Portrait, in which Alberto Giacometti is portrayed by Australian actor Geoffrey Roy Rush.

Swiss-French artist Sophie Taeuber-Arp initially studied textile design and later began creating multimedia art called Duo-Collages, along with her husband, German-French abstract artist Jean Arp. Apart from teaching at an art and craft school, the Dadaist had also used dance, painting, and sculpture to showcase her artistic talent.

Known for his advertisement designs and abstract art, Swiss graphic designer and artist Max Bill was initially trained as a silversmith. He later also taught art in Switzerland and Germany. He not only established the Ulm School of Design, but also designed its building and its academic programs.

Part of the Nouveau Réalisme art movement, Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely developed a form of kinetic art known as metamatics, which consisted of self-destructing sculptures. Homage to New York, installed at the Museum of Modern Art was one of his best-known works. He ridiculed man’s dependence on technology through his works.

Swiss artist Hans Erni is best remembered for his commissioned artworks. He designed posters, Olympic medals, and postage stamps and drew several murals for renowned organizations such as the UN and the Red Cross. It is rumored, several bank notes designed by him were not printed due to his Communist propaganda.

Not much is known about artist Franz Anton Bustelli’s early life, except that he worked at a porcelain factory. One of the greatest figures of the Rococo style of art, he created porcelain figures of gods, street vendors, and even Oriental characters. His signature style included the use of rich colors.

Born in Austria-Hungary, or present-day Romania, celebrated sculptor Zoltan Kemeny became the only Hungarian to score a win at the Venice Biennale. Trained in carpentry and architecture, he also worked as a fashion designer, before settling in Switzerland, where he became popular for his metal reliefs.

Initially trained as a printer, Hans Aeschbacher later learned drawing, painting, and sculpting by himself. Using terra-cotta, plaster, and stone, he crested abstract masterpieces such as Abstract Faces. He later also used porous lava rock and sculpted giant artworks, some of which were almost 15 feet high.