Museum of Modern Art

Ascona
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How to get

A13 Locarno-Tenero, take the exit going in the direction of Ascona, continue on Via Locarno, then at the roundabout take the 1st exit and continue on Viale Monte Verità. Turn left and park in the municipal multistorey car park. Go to Via Borgo by foot.

About

The municipal Museum of Modern Art is located in a beautiful late sixteenth-century building overlooking Via Borgo: it houses a significant selection of the municipality’s permanent collection and is the seat of two foundations: the Marianne Werefkin Foundation and the Richard Seewald Foundation.

The municipal collection takes its origins from as far back as 1922 when many of the artists based in Ascona decided to donate one of their works with the aim of creating the basis for a future municipal museum. Numbered among the most important works are the "Testa di ragazza" (Head of a Girl) by Jawlensky, "Figure" (Figures) by Cuno Amiet and "Casa Rossa" (Red House) by Paul Klee, offered by the Russian painter Marianne Werefkin, together with five of her works. The collection was progressively enhanced over the years that followed. Well represented is the group of ‘Grosser Bär’ (Ursa Major), set up in 1924 by Werefkin, the Germans, Walter Helbig and Otto Niemeyer, the Swiss, Albert Kohler and Ernst Frick, the Dutchman, Otto van Rees and the American, Mc Couch, whose presence is shown with many paintings.

Of great significance, among others, are the chalk picture by Marcel Janko, the paintings by Arthur Segal (fresco painter of the lunettes at the cemetery in Ascona), the abstract oil painting by Cesar Dornela and the watercolour by Hermann Hesse. Among the most recent acquisitions are various works by Jules Bissier, Ben Nicholson, Italo Valenti, a tempera by Marino Marini, a splendid polychrome head by Hermann Haller and the important Carlo Wiedermeyer Fund. But, most importantly, the museum houses the Werefkin Foundation collection which, with around 70 paintings and 160 sketch books, is by a long way the most significant collection of this extraordinary artist’s work, a key figure in the avant-guard linked to the ‘Blaue Reiter’ group. Also relying on the museum is the Richard Seewald Foundation, which has within its collection, along with works by the artist, a Utrillo of rare beauty, a Klee, a large drawing by Franz Marc and a watercolour sketch by Kubin.

Booking:
Optional

Price:
Student, parties, AVS: 5.00  CHF
Adult: 7.00 CHF