Exhibition at the St-Hilaire Gallery
Galerie St-Hilaire presents its new exhibition dedicated to Swiss artist and graphic designer GOTTFRIED HONEGGER
A leading figure in international Concrete and Constructive Art, Gottfried Honegger (1917–2016) placed the relationship between geometric structure and light at the heart of his artistic practice. The relief works brought together in the exhibition The Poetry of Forms bear witness to his exploration of space and light. Created from the mid-1990s onwards, this series of works, also known as Space Paintings, marks a decisive turning point in his transition from painting to sculpture. Through these works, Honegger brings painting into the realm of physical reality, establishing a dialogue between the artwork and architectural space, and, in turn, with the viewer.
Born in Zurich in 1917, Gottfried Honegger initially trained in applied arts before opening a graphic design studio in 1937 with Warja Lavater (1913–2007), an internationally renowned graphic designer, illustrator and painter, who would later become his wife.
In 1958, he moved to New York, where he came into contact with artists associated with Abstract Expressionism and decided to devote himself exclusively to his artistic practice. During this period, he developed his first monochromatic Relief Paintings, which he exhibited in 1960 at the Martha Jackson Gallery in New York. Some of these works were immediately acquired for the collections of the MoMA.
Returning to Europe in 1961, Honegger settled in France, where he continued his investigations into geometry and further developed his relief paintings. By superimposing elementary shapes onto canvas beneath a monochromatic surface, he transformed mathematical rigour into a vibrant visual experience.
From this period onwards, Honegger sought to move beyond the artist's subjectivity by introducing chance into his creative process. In particular, he used computer calculations and dice throws to determine the geometric structures of his works. Although closely associated with the Zurich Concrete Art movement, this approach also reflected his interest in nature, which remained a constant source of inspiration throughout his life. Taking inspiration from natural processes, in which chance plays an essential role, he deliberately allowed room for unpredictability in his work.
From the 1990s onwards, his artistic explorations expanded into new dimensions. His reliefs gradually broke free from the picture plane, evolving into freestanding metal reliefs, monumental sculptures and architectural installations that increasingly occupied public spaces.
A deeply committed artist, Honegger played an instrumental role in the establishment of the Foundation for Constructive and Concrete Art in Zurich in 1986, which has since managed the Museum Haus Konstruktiv.
In 1990, together with Sybil Albers, he co-founded the Espace de l'Art Concret in Mouans-Sartoux (Alpes-Maritimes), donating a unique collection to France.
Among his numerous exhibitions across Europe, the United States and Asia, particular mention should be made of the major retrospective devoted to him by the Centre Pompidou in 2015, an institution that holds a significant collection of his works. His work is also represented in the collections of numerous museums in Switzerland, France and internationally, including MAMCO Geneva, the Musée des beaux-arts de La Chaux-de-Fonds, the Musée de Grenoble, the Musée de Marseille, MoMA and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.
Visit also possible by appointment: 076 412 45 52 / 026 322 21 59
Dates and timetable
From 14 Nov to 19 Dec 2026
Tuesday
14:00 - 18:00
Thursday - Friday
14:00 - 18:00
Saturday
10:00 - 17:00
Galerie St-Hilaire
Rue des Alpes 32
1700 Fribourg
+41 26 322 21 59
+41 76 412 45 52
