FONDATION HUBERT LOOSER
The foundation was established in 1988 by the then 50-year-old entrepreneur HUBERT LOOSER. Since that time he dedicated himself to building up a top-class art collection (abstract expressionism, minimalism and surrealism) The main works will be presented at the Kunsthaus Zürich in its own rooms in the new building (Chipperfield) from October 2021.
However, the well-traveled Hubert Looser saw (in addition to his enthusiasm for art) a lot of misery and need in the world, which is why the foundation is additionally dedicated to supporting humanitarian projects, including in Cambodia, Nepal, Indonesia or Zimbabwe.
HUBERT LOOSER remains committed to ensuring that Zurich remains a vibrant, open and innovative place for contemporary art.
In 1983, as Chairman, HUBERT LOOSER first brought Walter Rentsch AG and in 1986 Elco Looser Holding to the stock exchange in Zurich. In 1990/92, HUBERT LOOSER sold his shares in the company when he resigned. In the following years, he devoted all his energy to building up his international art collection on the one hand and to supporting relief organizations in the humanitarian field on the other. To date, he has regularly donated to more than 40 organizations.
At the beginning of his collecting activities he acquired mainly Swiss art of Surrealism (Brignoni, Seligmann, Thomkins) of Abstract Expressionism (Schaffner, Disler) as well as works by artists such as Walter Bodmer, Lenz Klotz, Hugo Weber, Dieter Roth and Louis Soutter.
From 1998 onwards, HUBERT LOOSER acquired mainly works by influential international artists, which today form the core of the collection, such as Willem de Kooning, Tony Smith, Donald Judd, Ellsworth Kelly, Pablo Picasso, Lucio Fontana and Anselm Kiefer.
In 2009, HUBERT LOOSER brought the most significant works to his Fondation to make them permanently accessible to the public. In 2012, the Fondation agreed a permanent loan contract with the Kunsthaus Zürich. The collection was first shown in its entirety at Kunstforum Wien in 2012, and then at Kunsthaus Zürich in 2013. Subsequently, exhibitions were held in Essen, Oslo, Krems, and in 2018 at Kunsthaus Zürich. From 2021, the collection will be on permanent display in its own rooms in the Kunsthaus extension.
