Renée Levi

Like a gust of wind, Mira, the new mural by Renée Levi, sweeps around the small courtyard of the Kunstmuseum Basel | Hauptbau. The painting, a gift from the artist, will be created on site and will be on display from August 30, 2025.

"With the spray can, I can draw quickly, in one breath without stopping. There's no time to think, just movement. And with a clear head, I become part of the spray can myself," says Basel-based artist Levi about her work. Levi's painting is only limited by a white frame along the floor and ceiling. It defines the three greenish-gray walls as a wind tunnel that leads from the museum shop around the corners of the inner courtyard to the information desk. The frame is also the only preparation made on site. The choice of colors and lines arise “on the spot, in the moment of creation,” says Levi. “There are no tests and no corrections. What happens is what happens and stays that way.”

The idea for the wall work came from the director of the Kunstmuseum Basel, Elena Filipovic: "The small courtyard of the museum is a place of peace and relaxation. I often see visitors there reading or resting between visits to the exhibitions." Such tranquil areas are important for the museum, so Filipovic wanted to draw more attention to the atmosphere. However, in addition to its architectural role, the courtyard was also to be reestablished as a space for art. This gave rise to the idea of commissioning a work that would adorn this space until the renovation of the Hauptbau.“ Levi was the obvious choice: ”She is an artist living in Basel who is deeply involved in painting and architecture and who brings a feminist perspective that enlivens the small courtyard in a way that only she can.”

Levi has long been represented in the Kupferstichkabinett collection with several works. In spring 2025, this collection of works on paper was expanded with the acquisition of two large-format paintings, Yafa (2004) and Sabine (2010), thus anchoring Levi's position more broadly in the Kunstmuseum Basel collection. Levi's generous offer to donate her wall work in the small courtyard gallery to the museum is a sign of mutual appreciation.