Marisa Merz (1926–2019) was a pivotal figure in post-war Italian art and the sole female representative of the Arte Povera movement, which emerged in the late 1960s amid a turbulent, post-industrial Italy. Renowned for her subtle yet powerful works, she utilized “poor” materials like aluminum, clay, copper, nylon, wax, and fabric, reflecting the movement’s emphasis on raw, everyday elements. Her art explored the interplay between sculpture—often embodying the female form—space, and the fragile connection between art and life, creating a poetic, autonomous body of work over five decades. In 2013, she received the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale for her lifetime achievements.

Merz’s works, characterized by silence and delicacy, frequently revisited motifs like faces crafted in wax, clay, or plaster, adorned with gold leaf or copper wire, drawing inspiration from European art history—Byzantine icons, Renaissance masters like Fra Angelico, and sculptors like Medardo Rosso. Her innovative use of materials bridged high and popular culture, transforming space and time into a dynamic collage of drawing, painting, sculpture, and installations.

From January 31 to June 1, 2025, the Kunstmuseum Bern hosts her most comprehensive Swiss retrospective in 30 years, featuring 80 works across various media, alongside documentation of her ephemeral actions, such as her 1970 beach installation near Rome.

Marisa Merz: Listen to the Space / Retrospective at Kunstmuseum Bern. Bern (Switzerland), March 3, 2025.