Independent art historian — Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Yves
Guignard

PhD in Art History

Current exhibition · Curator

Coghuf, peintre du Jura

Retrospective marking fifty years since the artist’s death

Moutier, Delémont, Porrentruy and the Franches-Montagnes · 6 September 2026 – 31 January 2027

Exhibitions Venue website

Behind this symbolic and easy-to-remember name is Yves Guignard, doctor in art history at the University of Lausanne, based in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Art(h)ür is both a play on words about art as well as a door (in German, Tür) to be opened. Two brackets like doorways leading to an aspirated H, a soundless letter, a breath, an inspiration. Everything really starts there, after all.

Services · About data

Three ways to open the door to a collection

Any writing on bodies of work requires a good understanding of the subject material. This is why I have developed an expertise in databases.

Yves Guignard

Background

Following the completion of a thesis on the art collector and art dealer Wilhelm Uhde (1874–1947), I acquired considerable expertise on the European art market of the first half of the 20^th century.

Having worked as a tour guide for the Beyeler Foundation (Riehen/Basel) for the past fifteen years, I have been confronted with the main modern artists active between the 19^th century and the present day.

During the last few years, I have designed and built databases for private collectors – most notably the family of the painter Balthus – in order to browse through historical archives and art collections.

Two years as an assistant at the Kunsthaus Zürich taught me how to curate exhibitions and to take care of collections.

All these years in the art world have allowed me to build up a solid network of restorers, framers, photographers, provenance researchers, publishers and printers with whom I know how to work.

Lastly, I write and publish on the above topics.

This website aims to give a few insights into my work in the different languages (EN, FR, DE) I work with.

Work · Research and writing

Recent work

As an independent art historian, my primary task is to ensure the continuity of this discipline by researching and publishing on a wide array of subjects.

2026 Escapade « Coghuf, peintre du Jura » Excursion des Ami·e·s du MCBA, visite de l’exposition avec son commissaire — Musée jurassien des Arts et Musée jurassien d’art et d’histoire
2026 Sur les traces des sociétés d’artistes femmes en Suisse Autour de l’exposition « Les ateliers de Janebé » — Fondation Ateliers d’Artiste (FAA)
2026 Surréalisme : une révolution au féminin Ami·e·s du MCBA, cycle « L’Art et les femmes », conférence n° 3 — Auditorium du MCBA, Plateforme 10
2024 Le Surréalisme et ses marges – les cas Balthus et Paul Klee Ami·e·s du MCBA, « Conférences sur l’art – Surréalisme », conférence n° 6 — Auditorium du MCBA, Plateforme 10