Now on view

Menil Drawing Institute, Houston
Marc's wall drawing RESILIENCE, Drawing the Line.
Commissioned by the Menil Drawing Institute in 2023, making it the fifth installment of their ephemeral wall drawing series. Curated by Kelly Montana
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History, memory, identity and gender, migration, the connections between violence, religion and sexuality are fundamental themes in Marc Bauer’s work. A work that consists for a major part of black and white drawings, but extends to animation film, ceramics, oil painting and sculpture.

On the basis of intensive research, frequently in collaboration with specialists outside the field of visual art (scientists, musicians, philosophers, authors), Marc develops intimate works, sets of drawings, large-scale, space filling installations consisting of works on paper, wall drawings, animations, sounds.

Neither the research nor the selection of the images have any claim to completeness, general validity or methodical accuracy, but follow the subjective perspective of the artist. Marc assembles the collected materials into vivid narratives in which historical and fictional elements and events from different places and times can mix.


Marc Bauer (1975, Geneva) lives and works in Zurich. He studied at the Ecole Supérieure d’Arts Visuels Genève (now HEAD) and at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam. He is tenured lecturer at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK).

He has shown his works in numerous solo exhibitions in Switzerland and abroad, notably at the Menil Drawing Institute (2023–2024) Berlinische Galerie (2020–2021), Istituto Svizzero, Milan (2020), Drawing Room, London (2019), Museum Folkwang, Essen (2014), Centre Culturel Suisse, Paris (2013), Kunstmuseum St. Gallen (2011), MAMCO, Geneva (2010).
And many group exhibitions, for example in the Congo Biennale (2022), Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (2021), Migros Museum, Zurich (2019), Kunsthaus Zurich (2019), Biennale of Sydney (2018), S.M.A.K., Ghent (2015), Albertina Museum, Vienna (2015), Liverpool Biennial (2014).


2023 Menil Drawing Institute, Houston. Wall Drawing Series: Marc Bauer
2022 Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zurich. The Default Brain
Gilda Lavia Gallery, Rome. The Truce
2021 FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand. L’Etat de la mer (Lame de fond, 2011-2020)
Keteleer Gallery, Antwerp. Second Wind 2021
2020 Berlinische Galerie, Berlin. The Blow-Up Regime, GASAG Kunstpreis 2020
Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zurich. Project space
Istituto Svizzero Milano. Mi piace Commenta Condividi, A Rhetorical Figure
De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill on Sea. Mal-Être / Performance
2019 Drawing Room, London. Mal-Être / Performance
2018 Deweer Gallery, Otegem. Avondland
2017 Frieze Projects, London. Tracing Identities, Peckham 2017
Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zurich. An unser Schicksal von Heute und Morgen
2015 Freymond-Guth Fine Arts Ltd., Zurich. EMPEROR ME
FRAC Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur, Marseille. Cinerama
Deweer Gallery, Otegem. Static / Unfolding Time
2014 Museum Folkwang, Essen. Der Sammler, wall drawing
FRAC Alsace, Sélestat. Cinerama
Le Quartier, Quimper. In the Past, Only
FRAC Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand. Cinerama
2013 Freymond-Guth Fine Arts, Zurich. The Astronaut
Centre Culturel Suisse, Paris. Le Collectionneur
2012 La Station, Nice. Pleins Pouvoirs, septembre
Musée de Pully, with Sara Masüger, Lausanne. Le ravissement mais l’aube, déjà
Kunsthaus Baselland, Muttenz/Basel. Nature as Territory
Freymond-Guth, Zurich. Der Sammler
2011 Centre d’Art du Hangar à Bananes, Nantes. Le réel est inadmissible, d’ailleurs il n’existe pas
Remap 3, Athens. History of Masculinity III: The Great expectation of M. H.
Kunstmuseum St. Gallen. Todtstell-Reflexe
2010 Car Projects, Bologna. E la neve, e il trionfo
MAMCO, Geneva. Premier conte sur le pouvoir
2009 Frac Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand. LAQUE
2008 Art statements, Art 39 Basel. Panorama Todtnauberg
2007 Elisabeth Kaufmann, Zurich. Gegen mein Gehirn
attitudes, espace d’arts contemporains, Geneva. History of Masculinity, Epilogue
Praz-Delavallade, Paris. History of Masculinity IV, Abendland
2006 o.T. Raum für aktuelle Kunst, Luzern. Geschichte der Männlichkeit
2005 Nicolas Krupp gallery, Basel. Eine kleine Geschichte der Infamie
Kunstmuseum Solothurn. Overthrowing the King in his Own Mind. With Shahryar Nashat and Alexia Walther
2004 Store Gallery London. Happier Healthier
SMBA (Stedelijk Museum Bureau Amsterdam). Tautology
2001 attitudes, Geneva. Archeology
2000 Art-Magazin, Zurich. Swiss Room


2024 Multiple locations in Engelberg, Switzerland. Backstage Engelberg
FRAC - Alsace, Sélestat. Dialogues contemporains
2023 Museo Villa dei Cedri, Bellinzona, DISAPPEAR HERE. Curated by Rolando Bassetti
Kunsthalle Zurich, Monotypes. Curated by David Khalat and Valérie Hashimoto
2022 Congo Biennale, Kinshasa, Le Souffle des Ancêtres. Curated by Armelle Dakouo and Fahamu Pecou
Impakt Festival, Utrecht, The Curse of Smooth Operations. Invited by Anita Di Bianco
Peter Kilchmann, Zurich, 30 Years Anniversary Exhibition
Keteleer Gallery, Antwerp, The Painting Show
2021 Guggenheim Bilbao, Los locos años veinte. Curated by Petra Joos and Cathérine Hug
Kunstmuseum Solothurn, Réserve du Patron
Musée Jenisch, XXL Le dessin contemporain en grand
2020 Kunsthaus Zurich, Schall und Rauch, Die wilden Zwanziger. Curated by Cathérine Hug
2019 Migros Museum, Zurich, United by AIDS-An about Loss, Remembrance, Activism and Art in Response to HIV/AIDS. Curated by Raphael Gygax
Kunsthaus Zurich, Fly me to the Moon. Curated by Cathérine Hug
The Athens Conservatory, Athens. Anatomy of Political Melancholy. Curated by Katerina Gregos
L’art dans les chapelles, La chapelle Sainte Tréphine. Pontivy, France. Curated by Eric Suchère
2018 Wilhelm Hack museum, Ludwigshafen. Autofiktionen - Zeichnung der Gegenwart
Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zurich. Group show
21st Biennale of Sydney, Sydney. SUPERPOSITION: Art of Equilibrium and Engagement. Curated by Mami Kataoka
2017 Drawing Center, Diepenheim. I who made mistakes on the eternal typewriter
The Drawing Room, London. Drawing Biennial 2017
Centre Pompidou, Paris. 10 Years Guerlain Drawing Prize
Helmhaus, Zurich. Ewige Gegenwart, Zeitgenössische Kunst Aus Der Graphischen Sammlung ETH Zürich
Aargauer Kunsthaus. Cinéma mon amour
2016 Migros Museum, Zurich. Museum Revisited 1996–2016
Bâtiment d’Art Contemporain (BAC), Geneva. Nous pourrions danser ensemble
Frac Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand. Retour au meilleur des mondes
Rencontres d’Arles, Il y a de l’autre. Curated by Agnès Geoffray and Julie Jones
KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg. Donations - Florence & Daniel Guerlain. Curated by Jonas Storsve
Frac Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand. A quoi tient la beauté des étreintes
2015 S.M.A.K., Ghent. The Bottom Line. Curated by Martin Germann and Philippe Van Cauteren
Nordiska Akvarellmuseet, Skarhamn. Donation Florence & Daniel Guerlain
Deweer Gallery, Otegem, The Drawing Room II
Kunsthaus Zurich. Europa, die Zukunft der Geschichte. Curated by Cathérine Hug
Albertina Museum, Vienna. Drawing Now: 2015. Curated by Elsy Lahner
Freymond-Guth Fine Arts Ltd., Zurich. Borrowed Alibis
The Drawing Room, London. Drawing Biennial 2015
Kunstverein Konstanz. Meeting Point. Curated by Axel Lapp
Kunsthaus Zurich. Meisterzeichnungen, 100 Jahre Grafische Sammlung
Kunstverein Speyer. Hans-Purrmann-Preis 2015
2014 Aargauer Kunsthaus, Aarau. Docking Station
Liverpool Biennial. A Needle Walks into a Haystack. Curated by Mai Abu ElDahab and Anthony Huberman
Freymond-Guth Fine Arts Ltd., Zurich. Le Salon Particulier
Migros Museum, Zurich. Sacré 101 - An Exhibition Based on the Rite of Spring. Curated by Raphael Gygax
Centre Pompidou, Paris. Donation Florence et Daniel Guerlain. Curated by Jonas Storsve
2013 Parcours Art Basel, The Architect, Curated by Florence Derieux
Les Abattoirs, Toulouse. Les Pléiades - 30 ans des FRAC
2012 Villa Bernasconi, Geneva. The Beirut Experience II
Kunsthalle Exnergasse, Vienna. Reality Manifestos, or Can Dialectics Break Bricks? Curated by Dimitrina Sevova
2011 Beirut Art Center (BAC), The Beirut Experience. Curated by Jean-Paul Felley and Olivier Kaeser
Freymond-Guth gallery, Zurich. The Secret Garden
Aargauer Kunsthaus, Aarau. Voici un dessin suisse (1990-2010)
Barbara Seiler Galerie, Zurich. RAL 7021, eine magnifique Reportage! Curated by Marcel van Eeden
Centre Pompidou, Paris. Acquisitions récentes, cabinet d’art graphique
Kunstmuseum St.Gallen. Back to the Future
Kunstmuseums Solothurn. In erster Linie
Museum Ostwall, Dortmund. Bild für Bild
2010 SAL, Basel. Where cuckoos nest in autumn, with Armen Eloyan and Sara Masüger
Musée Rath, Geneva. Voici un dessin suisse (1990-2010)
Frac Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand. Célébration
Kunstmuseum Bern, Bern. Made in China
2009 Centre Culturel Suisse, Paris. Documents
CAC Vilnius. Shifting Identities
2008 XV. Rohkunstbau, Potsdam. THREE COLORS - RED
Kunsthaus Zurich. Shifting Identities
Bielefelder Kunstverein. Gegen den Strich
Kunsthaus Zurich. Intro
2007 Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin. Gegen Den Strich
FRAC Alsace, Selestat. Drôles de je
MMSU, Rijeka, Croatia. Body as spectacle
2006 Koldo Mitxelena Kulturunea, San Sebastián. Glaskultur
2005 MAC, Santiago de Chile. Buenos Días Santiago - an exhibition as expedition
Mary Mary Gallery, Glasgow
Messe Basel, Swiss Awards
2004 ACCA (Australian Centre for Contemporary Art), Melbourne. A Molecular History of Everything*
Store Galery, London. Summer Pursuits
Messe Base, Swiss Awards
Helmhaus, Zurich. Fürchte Dich
2003 Postbahnhof am Ostbahnhof, Berlin. Lautloses irren, ways of worldmaking, too
Kunsthalle, Zurich. 20 Jahre Binz Stiftung
Cohan Leslie & Brown Gallery, New York. Little triggers
Galerie Zürcher, Paris, Archéologies


Marc Bauer is the laureate of the Prix Meret Oppenheim / the Swiss Grand Award for Art 2020. He is the winner of the GASAG Kunstpreis in 2020, was awarded the Prix culturel Manor, Geneva in 2009, and the Swiss Art Award in 2001, 2005 and 2006.

Marc Bauer was fellow at Istituto Svizzero in 2005–2006, received the Landis & Gyr Stiftung studio stipendium London, 2017 and in 2006 GegenwART_ Museum Bern, Ai Weiwei Beijing Studio residency.

Marc is represented by Galerie Peter Kilchmann in Zurich, Gilda Lavia in Rome and Keteleer Gallery in Antwerp

Open Marc's CV as pdf



Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Architecture, Universität, Architektur, university, Prix Meret Oppenheim, Schweizer Grand Prix Kunst, Grand Prix Suisse d’Art Marc Bauer exhibition at Galerie Peter Kilchmann artist Marc Bauer's biography at Galerie Peter Kilchmann