St. Moritz Is The Winter Salon of the Art World

By Amanda Shine Pishyar on 03.17.26

St. Moritz’s presence in the art world stretches back more than a century. A new wave of programming, design fairs, and cultural happenings has reaffirmed the alpine resort as a seasonal hub — not just for sport and five-star stays, but also for art lovers, collectors, and patrons.

GALLERIES, FAIRS & SHOWS

The arrival of galleries such as Galerie Gmurzynska, Vito Schnabel Gallery, and Hauser & Wirth has reinforced St. Moritz as an increasingly important seasonal destination on the cultural map. These galleries are currently hosting a series of noteworthy exhibitions. 

Vito Schnabel Gallery has an exhibition of seven unique works from Joan Miró’s masonite series painted in Spain in the Summer of 1936. Through April 4.

Hauser & Wirth is exhibiting a personal collection of paintings, sculptures and drawings by Alberto Giacometti. The show is supported with photographers by Ernst Scheidegger, Giacometti’s close confidant who documented his life and work over many years. Through March 28. 

NOMAD Circle continues to impact the town’s cultural footprint, transforming historic villas into an immersive showing of architecture, design and history for leading international galleries. The design fair’s ninth Swiss edition felt larger than life with Giorgio Armani as official sponsor. Mark your calendar for next year’s lineup.

Tony Kelly World In December 2024, photographer Tony Kelly opened his own St. Moritz gallery as an exclusive showcase of his work. Peek into a self-created universe of pop color, visual culture explosions, and larger-than-life satires from the photojournalist and celebrity photographer turned fine artist.

Pink Mirror Carousel, a whimsical installation by contemporary artist Carsten Höller, appeared on the frozen surface of Lake St. Moritz at the Kulm Hotel for the 2025 winter season. The local environment has long been a natural backdrop for rare experiences and show stopping visual moments. Known for interactive works that merge art and amusement, Höller’s work added a playful moment to the town’s tradition of using the lake as a stage. In a town with its own “if you know, you know” reputation, the carousel bridges public art with high-end culture. Through Winter 2027.  Read our full story on the installation.

OVER 100 YEARS OF ART, DESIGN AND VERY SPECIAL GATHERINGS 

A look back in time at a few key culture moments that highlight how this alpine setting evolved into a glamorous cultural hub for art and design. 

1907: The Beginning: White Turf 

While technically a sporting event of horse racing on frozen ice, White Turf helped establish Lake St. Moritz as a theatrical cultural stage.

1908: The First Museum

Renowned painter Giovanni Segantini was drawn to the beautiful mountain light in the late 1800s. His luminous Symbolist paintings helped shape the region’s artistic identity, ultimately inspiring the Segantini Museum, which opened in 1908 in his honor. Today, the museum remains one of the key cultural anchors of St. Moritz, linking the town to Segantini’s creative legacy.

1972: The Home Studio of Mili Weber 

Known for her fairy-tale inspired murals and illustrations, Mili Weber lived and painted in the region long before the contemporary gallery scene arrived. The house’s preservation is what makes it special:  the interior’s murals, furniture and objects remaining largely intact providing visitors with a unique window into an early creative community. 

1974: The Dracula Club Opens 

Founded by cultural patron Gunter Sachs, the Dracula Club became a legendary winter salon for artists, musicians, and collectors during the height of the jet-set era. Figures such as Brigitte Bardot had already helped establish the town as a glamorous gathering place for creative personalities.

2005: The First Blue Chip Gallery

Galerie Gmurzynska opens a St. Moritz location, bringing a blue-chip gallery presence to the alpine resort. Its arrival showcased that a serious art world audience had already made the region a winter destination.

2015: International Gallery Expansion

The foresight of Vito Schnabel Gallery into the town’s cultural potential is ahead of the curve. Opening a seasonal gallery in 2015, the space quickly became a winter gathering point for collectors visiting the Alps. In 2018, Hauser & Wirth followed suit, aligning its exhibition calendar with the rhythm of the winter social season in St. Moritz.

2017: Collectible Design Arrives

In February 2017, NOMAD Circle introduced collectible design, transforming historic Engadin villas into immersive exhibitions for leading international design galleries. A departure from a white-cube format, the salon-like atmosphere created within these historic residences reinforces the uniqueness of St. Moritz, meshing architecture, design, and history with an intimate, collector-driven art scene.

2025: Social Media Moments

Carsten Höller Pink Mirror Carousel appeared on the frozen surface of Lake St. Moritz, creating the high-brow cultural spectacle of the season.