Where to see and buy pop art sculpture in French-speaking Switzerland

French-speaking Switzerland offers many opportunities to see contemporary sculpture, from museums to art fairs. Buying a pop art sculpture for your home is another matter: what is on offer is scattered, often online, and photographs do not tell the whole story. This guide distinguishes between the places where you train your eye and those where you buy, then lists the checks worth making before you decide.

Look before you buy: training your eye

Before buying a sculpture, it helps to have seen a great many. You gain a better sense of scale, of the effect of a finish, of how a form holds a space. Several institutions in French-speaking Switzerland lend themselves to this.

Museums

• MAMCO, in Geneva. The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art presents collections and temporary exhibitions devoted to art from the 1960s onwards, a period that includes pop art and what followed it.
• MCBA, in Lausanne. The Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts moved in 2019 to the Plateforme 10 arts district, next to the railway station. Its temporary exhibitions regularly cover modern and contemporary art.
• The Espace Jean Tinguely – Niki de Saint Phalle, in Fribourg. It brings together works by both artists. Niki de Saint Phalle's Nanas, colourful and made notably in polyester, are a direct reference for anyone interested in painted sculpture and synthetic materials.
• The Fondation Pierre Gianadda, in Martigny. Its sculpture park lets you see works in the open air, in direct relation to the landscape.

Art fairs

Art Genève is held every winter at Palexpo. The fair brings together Swiss and international galleries, with a substantial share of modern and contemporary art. It is a chance to see a large number of pieces in a few hours and to compare approaches.

Galleries

Geneva and Lausanne have many contemporary art galleries. Some occasionally show pop or neo-pop sculpture. Openings are generally open to all and let you discover works with no obligation.

Where to buy: the different channels

Once your eye is trained, several routes are open to you. They do not suit the same budgets or the same expectations.

Art galleries

A gallery sells artists' works, often in limited editions or as unique pieces, with a certificate. This is the channel for signed work. Prices reflect the artist's market standing.

Auctions

Auction houses occasionally offer sculptures by pop and neo-pop artists. Buying requires you to know the additional fees and to be able to examine the piece at the viewing that precedes the sale.

Interior and design shops

They offer decorative sculptures, often in small formats. The choice in large sizes is generally limited.

Online sales

This is the widest channel, but also the most uncertain. Photographs are sometimes retouched, dimensions poorly stated, finishes hard to judge. You discover the piece once the purchase is complete, without having been able to see or touch it. For a large piece, a return quickly becomes complicated.

The Aubonne hall

The hall of ArtPop offers a middle way. Its exceptional pieces in polyresin, hand-painted, are unveiled at openings, in a hall in Aubonne staged as a gallery. Each opening lasts two days. The hall is open to all, on the Friday as on the Saturday. Members of the Club discover each new arrival 48 hours in advance and can reserve online. Members can also pre-reserve a piece online with a 30 % deposit and collect it on site. Sales are limited to Switzerland, prices are shown in CHF, including Swiss VAT at 8.1 %, and every piece is collected at the hall. You therefore see the piece in person, at its actual size, under careful lighting, before taking it home. The pieces available are presented in the collection.

What to check before buying

Whatever the channel, a few checks will spare you unpleasant surprises.

Actual dimensions

The stated height is not enough. Ask for the width and depth, especially for an elongated animal. An 80 cm crocodile is measured in length, a 100 cm gorilla in height. Their footprints are entirely different.

Material and finish

Polyresin, fibreglass, lacquer, chrome, drip: each combination has its strengths and its limits. Our article on polyresin and fibreglass sets out the questions to ask.

Intended use

Indoors only, or sheltered outdoors? The answer should be clear. A piece exposed to sun and frost without suitable protection may deteriorate.

Transport

A one-metre sculpture is carried in a suitable vehicle, wrapped and secured. At the Aubonne hall, pieces are collected on site only: check the dimensions of your boot, bring blankets and, for a large piece, a second person.

Surface condition

Examine the lacquer from several angles and under raking light. That is where any flaws show. This check is impossible on a photograph.

See a piece, then decide

A simple method works well:

1. Measure the intended spot and note how much room you have to step back.
2. Take a photograph of the room in your home where the sculpture will go.
3. Go and see the pieces in person and compare several sizes.
4. Take the time to walk around the sculpture and look at it from a distance.
5. Decide on the spot, or reserve if the channel allows it.

To help you choose the size and finish, see our guide to choosing a statement piece.

From Lausanne, Geneva or La Côte

Aubonne lies on La Côte, between Lausanne and Geneva. It can be reached from the motorway linking the two cities, or by train to Allaman station, then by connection. For a large sculpture, come with a suitable vehicle: the piece leaves with you on the day of collection. The journey from either city is short, and a visit to the hall combines easily with a walk through the vineyards or along the lake.