Discover the Medardo Rosso Modern Art and Sculpture Exhibition at Kunstmuseum Basel

This comprehensive retrospective presents the revolutionary work of Italian-French sculptor Medardo Rosso, exploring his experimental approach to form, material, and photography. Featuring approximately fifty sculptures alongside two hundred and fifty photographs and drawings, the exhibition investigates his role as a pioneer of modern sculpture through both monographic and thematic perspectives.

Medardo Rosso (1858–1928) remains one of the most influential yet under-recognized figures in the history of modern art. This exhibition at the Kunstmuseum Basel provides a rare, in-depth look at his career, moving beyond the standard historical narrative to highlight his experimental intermedia practice. By bringing together roughly fifty sculptures—crafted in bronze, plaster, and wax—with hundreds of his photographs and drawings, the exhibition reveals how Rosso consistently pushed the boundaries of his medium, seeking to capture fleeting, transient moments rather than static monuments. The presentation is structured not only to showcase Rosso’s personal oeuvre but also to illustrate his lasting influence on artistic practice over the last century. His works are presented in dialogue with pieces by over sixty artists, including Auguste Rodin, Edgar Degas, Louise Bourgeois, and contemporary practitioners like Robert Gober and Lynda Benglis. Through this comparative approach, the exhibition highlights the radicality of Rosso’s explorations into space, light, and materiality, positioning his work as a critical precursor to many key developments in modern and contemporary sculpture.

The exhibition is on view at the Kunstmuseum Basel | Neubau. Visitors are encouraged to check the museum website for specific admission details and booking information before planning their visit.