John (Michael) Armleder, 1948-, conceptual artist. Born in Geneva, attended the Geneva Art School (1966-67). Founded the Galerie Ecarts for modern art in Geneva in 1969, performs and teaches. Lives in New York and Geneva.
John Armleder at the Swiss Institute for Art Research

Karl Bodmer, 1809-1893, painter, from Zurich. Invited to accompany a small ethnographical expedition to record its findings, in 1832-1834 he traveled into the US interior as far as Montana, producing highly praised pictures of American Indians. The 400 or so sketches and water colors he brought back from the expedition also illustrate Indian cultural artefacts, animals and landscapes. They are still regarded as the best pictures of the Indian culture and environment on the Missouri at that time. On his return to Europe he showed his American work widely in France, while the report of the expedition, including his illustrations, was published in Germany. A number of his paintings are in possession of the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska.
Karl Bodmer at the Swiss Institute for Art Research

Frank (Franz) Buchser, 1828-1890, painter, born in Feldbrunnen-St. Niklaus, Canton Solothurn. Financed his art studies in Rome by serving in the Papal Guard. Traveled widely, painting in Europe and also in Morocco. Went to the US in 1866, returning to Europe in 1871. The work he produced in the US includes a well-known portrait of Johann Augustus Sutter, the owner of the land on which the gold was found which sparked the California gold rush.
Frank Buchser at the Swiss Institute for Art Research

Robert Frank, 1924-

Max Frisch, 1911-1991, writer. Published his first novel in 1934, but then temporarily gave up his literary ambitions and studied architecture in Zurich. He visited America and Mexico in 1951 thanks to a Rockefeller Foundation scholarship, traveled again to the US, Mexico and Cuba in 1956 and to the US in 1970. In 1981 he bought a loft in New York, returned to Zurich in 1984. His wrote both novels and plays, and is regarded as one of Switzerland's major 20th century writers. His best known play is probably "The Firebugs" (1953); his novels include "I'm not Stiller" (1954), whose central character is a Swiss who has fled to the US to take up a non-Swiss identity.

Fritz Glarner, 1899-1972, artist. Born in Zurich, but spent his childhood in Naples (his mother’s hometown) and France. Studied art in Naples, and moved to Paris in 1923, where he met artists of the avant garde. He made his first trip to the US in 1930-1, where he mixed with artists and collectors. He remained in contact with progressive Swiss artists, in particular Max Bill. He moved to New York in 1936, where he initially earned his living as a portrait photographer. He continued painting, and was a member of the AAA (American Abstract Artists) from 1938-44. In 1944 he created his first circular painting, as an example of what he called “relational painting”. That same year he became a US citizen. His best known works include three in New York: murals for the Time and Life Buildng (1958) and for the UN Building, and the dining room for Nelson A. Rockefeller’s apartment (1963-4). He stopped painting in 1966 after a serious accident. He and his wife returned to Switzerland in 1971, settling in Lugano.
Fritz Glarner at the Swiss Institute for Art Research

William Lescaze, 1896 - 1969

Peter F. Rindisbacher (Rindesbacher), 1806-1834, artist. Born in the Emmental village of Eggiwil, Canton Bern. At the age of 15 migrated with his parents to the Red River Settlement in Canada. Moved to Wisconsin in 1826, and to St. Louis in 1829. He made his name as a painter of American Indians.
Peter Rindisbacher at the Swiss Institute for Art Research

Ugo Rondinone, 1964-, artist. Born in Brunnen, Canton Schwyz, and attended the University of Applied Arts in Vienna 1986-1990. Now lives and works in Zurich and New York. He uses video, music, painting, photos, and installation in his work. His art has been shown in numerous personal and group exhibitions in the US, Switzerland and many other countries all over the world.
Ugo Rondinone at the Swiss Institute for Art Research

Mari Sandoz, 1896 - 1966

Louis Soutter, 1871-1942, musician and painter. Born in Morges, Canton Vaud. He broke off his studies first in engineering and then in architecture to study the violin in Brussels. He also failed to complete this course, and returned to Switzerland in 1894 to study drawing and painting. He moved to the US in 1897, and settled in Colorado Springs with his American wife, where he was appointed head of the new Art Department in Colorado College. In 1903 his marriage ended, and he returned to Switzerland, where he joined the orchestras of Lausanne, then of Geneva. His behavior became ever more eccentric. In 1923 his family sent him to a home in the village of Ballaigues in Canton Vaud. Despite finding no encouragement for his work, he continued painting until his death.
Louis Soutter at the Swiss Institute for Art Research