For decades, the mountains have been more than just a winter escape for skiers; they have served as sanctuaries for artists, collectors, and cultural visionaries. Artists have long turned to the peaks for inspiration, Gerhard Richter’s Mountain series captures their grandeur with his signature blurred abstraction, while Basquiat’s Engadin valley mountain paintings transform the raw into poetic symbols of struggle. Few have depicted the quiet beauty of snow-covered landscapes as evocatively as Peter Doig, his dreamlike winter scenes feel both otherworldly and familiar. Nowhere is this interplay between art and the alpine more evident than in St. Moritz, where the legendary Gunter Sachs, an icon of the jet set, once installed a Roy Lichtenstein bathtub in his penthouse at Badrutt’s Palace, a bold statement that art and the alpine were meant to coexist. This seamless blending of high culture and high altitude continues today, as ski destinations around the world evolve into vibrant cultural scenes. From design fairs and exhibitions in St. Moritz and Gstaad, to meditative Turrell skyspaces in Austria, we take a look at this winter’s most compelling art experiences.
St. Moritz has long been a refuge for the artists and collectors. This winter, Hauser & Wirth presented a significant exhibition, “Jean-Michel Basquiat. Engadin,” on view until March 29, 2025. The exhibition explores Basquiat’s connection to the Engadin region, showcasing works inspired by his visits to Switzerland and exploring motifs that intertwine the natural and cultural landscapes of the area with the urban energy of New York.
This year marked the 15th edition of the NOMAD fair, blending design, art, and craft as it took over Klinik Gut, a former construction site in St Moritz. NOMAD brought together 40 galleries presenting an eclectic mix and special projects like a Nilufar's installation with glass designer Christian Pellizzari and a special room created by Lebanese duo david/nicolas for the Italian maison Buccellati. While NOMAD was happening, MAZE Arts also launched the first edition of the Maze Art Fair in St. Moritz, bringing together contemporary galleries for an exhibition of photography and sculpture.
Beyond the galleries, Muzeum Susch, founded by Grazyna Kulczyk, offers an experience unlike any other. Housed in a renovated medieval monastery dating back to 1157, the original buildings were restored, and underground passageways were added, connecting the site according to designs by architects Chasper Schmidlin and Lukas Voellmy.
Nearby The Stable Gallery, a unique minimalist transformed stable by Klainguti + Rainalater SA, is presenting a winter exhibition of Sophie von Hellermann. Her dreamlike whimsical paintings are inspired by her visit in the Engadin valley. The exhibition runs until 12 April 2025.
Local Swiss artist Not Vital, a native of the Engadin Valley, has also shaped the landscape itself into art. His Snow Castle, a sculptural structure built from ice and snow, is a fleeting work that blurs the line between architecture and nature. More permanently, he has transformed the 12th-century Tarasp Castle, which he acquired in 2016, into a space where contemporary interventions meet medieval architecture. Within its historic walls, visitors encounter works that merge sculpture, conceptual design, and the surrounding alpine environment, including the “House to Watch the Sunset,” a 13-meter-high tower designed for quiet contemplation of the valley below.
Villa Flor, a charming bed and breakfast in S-chanf, is hosting an exhibition dedicated to the friendship between Swiss photographer Ernst Scheidegger and sculptor Alberto Giacometti. This intimate setting allows visitors to experience the profound connection between the two artists, offering a unique glimpse into the electrically curated hotel scattered with works by Gio Ponti and Julian Schnabel.
In Zuoz, the Hotel Castell features an extensive art collection, that includes works by Nicolas Party, Lawrence Weiner, and Tadashi Kawamata. The collection also includes a permanent installation by James Turrell called The Skyspace Piz Uter, a walk-in sculpture that offers visitors an immersive experience of light and space, blending art seamlessly with the surrounding alpine environment.
Gstaad, long known for its luxury, is embracing contemporary art with increasing enthusiasm. Gstaad Art Week has become a highlight of the season, with installations and exhibitions appearing throughout the village. Maze fair had its second year in Gstaad, bringing 25 well known galleries to the mountains. Gagosian is leading the charge, presenting exhibitions of Urs Fischer and Rick Lowe, reinforcing the town’s emergence as a serious art destination.
Aspen has long held a dual identity: an elite ski destination and a flair for good taste. The Aspen Art Museum remains at the heart of its creative pulse, with a major winter exhibition by Ugo Rondinone, whose minimalist, poetic installations echo the surrounding landscape. Baldwin Gallery is presenting a show by Erwin Wurm, known for his humor-infused, thought-provoking sculptures. Galerie Maximillian is featuring works by Charles Gaines, McArthur Binion, Stanley Whitney, and Idris Khan. There is also Valley Fine Arts which specializes in Edward Curtis, an American photographer.
In Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where the rugged beauty of the Tetons dominates every view, art takes on a distinctly regional identity. The National Museum of Wildlife Art, built into the mountainside, holds an extraordinary collection that bridges the past and present, celebrating both the mythology and contemporary interpretations of the American West. Beyond the museum, the town’s galleries continue to bring fresh perspectives to Western themes, blending traditional forms with modern abstraction.
In Lech, Austria nestled in the landscape is Skyspace Lech, a permanent James Turrell installation set high in the mountains. This walk-in light sculpture invites visitors to experience the interplay between sky and colour, shifting with the natural light at sunrise and sunset. The Skyspace, accessed through a tunnel carved into the mountainside, is an extraordinary fusion of art and environment, creating a meditative space where the vastness of the sky feels intimately connected to the land.
While these storied destinations continue to lead the way in merging art and winter culture, the future of ski resorts as creative spaces is being reimagined. A new, highly anticipated ski park in Powder Mountain Utah, backed by Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, is set to become an artistic and architectural landmark, featuring site-specific works by James Turrell and Jenny Holzer. With Turrell’s immersive light installations and Holzer’s conceptual text-based works, this project signals a bold new era where contemporary art and alpine landscapes are seamlessly integrated.
For centuries, the mountains have inspired artists, writers, and collectors, serving as both sanctuary and stage for creative expression. From the Snow Castle of Not Vital to the Lichtenstein bathtub of Gunter Sachs, art in the mountains is embedded within it.
