Dedicated to ceramics and glass, the Musée Ariana is situated in a majestic 19th-century building within a 4-hectare park near the United Nations. In addition to its permanent collection, the museum regularly curates temporary exhibitions, frequently featuring the work of contemporary artists. Musee Ariana provides guided tours and organizes workshops for children.
An extensive survey assembled from a long-standing research collection devoted to glass, this exhibition takes a contemporary look at a millennia-old material. Over two hundred glass and mixed-media works, including sculptural objects, design pieces and installations, testify to a transdisciplinary experimental spirit. Featuring artists such as Ettore Sottsass, Pierre Charpin, Betty Woodman, Bob Wilson, Giuseppe Penone, Jana Sterbak and James Lee Byars, the show examines materiality, technique and the porous boundaries between craft, design and contemporary art.
Opening : Thursday 23 April, 18:00
Guided Tours (in French)
Ceramics and glass get their moment in the spotlight at the Ariana. From delicate porcelain to bold contemporary pieces, the collection shows just how inventive the “fire arts” can be, all inside one of Geneva’s most distinctive museum buildings.
An experimental one-day encounter curated around transformations of matter, featuring artists Marie Ducaté, Sillycat Glassblower and Turbo Particules. Works range from glassblowing and demonstrations with recycled glass, to clay and hand-built ceramics, color-based installations, soundscapes using theremin and projected light, plus participatory workshops.
Through surface, fire, light and gesture, the programme examines material change — how processes reveal hidden properties, provoke sensory shifts and reframe everyday substances as sites of wonder and inquiry.
Jump into a playful art session made for little hands and feet. Explore museum collections and see how artists use shapes and textures. Touch soft patterns, press painted palms and tiny toes, and watch colorful prints appear. Together, children create decorations that sparkle with pattern and movement. The workshop blends gentle discovery with making, encouraging curiosity, sensory play and early creativity.
Kids ages 2–4.
This tasting session examines how glass design influences the perception of aromas and the typicity of beverages. It explores the relationship between shape, volume, and surface interaction, and how these factors reveal or mute specific scent and flavor notes. Participants investigate sensory mechanisms behind olfactory focus, comparative tasting protocols, and practical considerations for pairing glassware with different drink styles. The presentation emphasizes learning through guided tasting and sensory analysis.
In French.
Led by musician-performer Michael Schmid, Breathcore transforms breath into a communal material. Through guided breathing practices, the piece probes forms of collective presence: intimate gestures become shared sonic textures and sustained vibrations. Without conductor or score, participants listen and synchronize, composing an evolving soundscape of whispers, pulses and resonant layers. The work foregrounds presence, trust and non-verbal communication, creating an atmosphere at once fragile and immersive. Produced in collaboration with Konnekt and a local cultural institution.
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Culture, curated weekly.
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