Hauser & Wirth's latest exhibition "Faces and Landscapes of Home" is a poignant return to Stampa, the Italian village that inspired both physical and artistic homecomings for 20th-century sculptor and painter Alberto Giacometti. This carefully curated show brings together a selection of Giacometti's works, including paintings, sculptures, and photographs, to explore the contrasts and tensions that defined his life.
Giacometti was born in Stampa in 1901 and spent much of his childhood there before moving to Paris in 1922. The city had a profound impact on him, introducing him to international avant-garde movements and influencing his artistic style. However, it's also clear that Giacometti never fully shed his roots. Many of the works on show are deeply rooted in Stampa, drawing on its landscape, culture, and even personal memories.
The exhibition is notable for the inclusion of lesser-seen photographs by Ernst Scheidegger, who captured Giacometti's private life in Stampa during the 1950s. These intimate images humanize Giacometti, revealing a figure who was both deeply absorbed in his work and intensely connected to his home environment.
Giacometti's artistic style is characterized by its expressive brushstrokes and emotive figures. Works like "Bust" (1948) and "Seated Man" (1950) showcase the artist's ability to balance form and emotion, while pieces like "Tête de Diego" (1947) demonstrate his ongoing exploration of the relationship between painter and sculptor.
Throughout the show, it's clear that Giacometti was a restless creative, drawn to different artistic traditions and styles throughout his life. Yet, despite these changes, there remains a deep connection between his work in Paris and Stampa, reflecting his dual identity as both artist and local resident.
Ultimately, "Faces and Landscapes of Home" offers a nuanced portrait of Giacometti's complex and often contradictory personality. It's an exhibition that rewards close attention, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the rich textures and emotions of Giacometti's work. By exploring his relationship with Stampa, we gain a deeper understanding of this enigmatic artist and his lasting impact on modern art.
The show will be on view at Hauser & Wirth, St Moritz, until March 28, 2026.
Giacometti was born in Stampa in 1901 and spent much of his childhood there before moving to Paris in 1922. The city had a profound impact on him, introducing him to international avant-garde movements and influencing his artistic style. However, it's also clear that Giacometti never fully shed his roots. Many of the works on show are deeply rooted in Stampa, drawing on its landscape, culture, and even personal memories.
The exhibition is notable for the inclusion of lesser-seen photographs by Ernst Scheidegger, who captured Giacometti's private life in Stampa during the 1950s. These intimate images humanize Giacometti, revealing a figure who was both deeply absorbed in his work and intensely connected to his home environment.
Giacometti's artistic style is characterized by its expressive brushstrokes and emotive figures. Works like "Bust" (1948) and "Seated Man" (1950) showcase the artist's ability to balance form and emotion, while pieces like "Tête de Diego" (1947) demonstrate his ongoing exploration of the relationship between painter and sculptor.
Throughout the show, it's clear that Giacometti was a restless creative, drawn to different artistic traditions and styles throughout his life. Yet, despite these changes, there remains a deep connection between his work in Paris and Stampa, reflecting his dual identity as both artist and local resident.
Ultimately, "Faces and Landscapes of Home" offers a nuanced portrait of Giacometti's complex and often contradictory personality. It's an exhibition that rewards close attention, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the rich textures and emotions of Giacometti's work. By exploring his relationship with Stampa, we gain a deeper understanding of this enigmatic artist and his lasting impact on modern art.
The show will be on view at Hauser & Wirth, St Moritz, until March 28, 2026.
. He's like the ultimate example of an artist being both super connected to their roots and also all about pushing boundaries. The fact that they're showing those intimate photos by Scheidegger is a game-changer - it humanizes him in a way that's really cool. I love how his art captures this sense of emotional intensity, it's like you can feel the tension between him being in Stampa and being in Paris. And the show at Hauser & Wirth is gonna be so good 
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the photos of him from stampa are giving me all the feels 
he was this super creative dude who loved his home village of stampa so much! 
anyway, the show has these amazing pics by ernst scheidegger that are SO intimate & humanize giacometti in a way that feels really real 
i loved how the curators put together all these different works to show how he was both influenced by paris & his roots in stampa it was like getting a glimpse into this otherworldly person's life 
and honestly, im still reeling from the emotions in some of the art pieces 
"bust" & "seated man" are my new faves 