Contact
Gen Atem
Baumgartenstrasse 335
CH-4715 Herbetswil
Switzerland
gen@genatem.com

Publications
edition.bossardwettstein.com

Life and career
wikipedia.org

Solo exhibitions (selection)
• 2025: Always Right, Loiegruebe – Raum für Kunst, Solothurn, Switzerland
• 2021: Truth and Shadows, Galerie Loiegruebe, Solothurn, Switzerland
• 2019: Truth, Corydor Artspace, Wallisellen, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2018: Retrospective, Galerie Roman Hofer Am Fluss, Ennetbaden, Switzerland
• 2018: Duality, Hongakuji Bok-Koku School of Calligraphy, Tokyo, Japan
• 2017: Form is Emptiness, MoE – Museum of Emptiness, St. Gallen, Switzerland
• 2017: Meditated Vandalism, Galerie Philipp Brogli Artstuebli, Basel, Switzerland
• 2017: Now is Gone, Galerie Fahrradbüro, Art Adventures Sascha Serfözö, Berlin, Germany
• 2016: Meditated Vandalism: Retrospective of the Function, Kolly Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2016: Resurrection, Round K Gallery, New York City, USA
• 2014: Rock/Stars, Galerie Lisi Hämmerle, Bregenz, Austria
• 2014: Meditated Vandalism, Kolly Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2011: The Aerosol Experience, Galerie Ziegler SA, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2011: Executions, Milk Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
• 2010: Meditated Vandalism, Galerie Parzelle, Basel, Switzerland
• 2009: Pages, BlamBlamBlam Art Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1991: Strategy of the Unreadable, Kunstraum SRO, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1990: Wild Style Paintings, Kunsthaus Oerlikon, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1989: Style Mentalities, Galerie Artagogo, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1984: Graffity, Casablanca Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland

Group exhibitions and exhibition participations (selection)
• 2024: Cantonal Annual Exhibition of Solothurn Artists, Solothurn Museum of Art, Switzerland
• 2024: UrbanArt Biennale, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Völklingen Ironworks, Germany
• 2023: Cantonal Annual Exhibition of Solothurn Artists, Olten Museum of Art, Switzerland
• 2023: Retrospective A23, MUVA, Museum of Urban and Vandalism Art, Solothurn, Switzerland
• 2022: Bang Bang, Translocal Hi:stories of Performance Art, Museum Tinguely, Basel, Switzerland
• 2022: Graffiti Pioneers, Galerie Philipp Brogli Artstuebli, Basel, Switzerland
• 2021: Tracks of Life, Galerie am Fluss, Baden, Switzerland
• 2021: Beyond The Street, Carbon Gallery, Curated by Fumihiko Tsukamoto, Fukuoka City, Japan
• 2021: Archive, Galerie Philipp Brogli Artstuebli, Basel, Switzerland
• 2018: Rammellzee: Racing for Thunder, Red Bull Arts New York, New York, NY, USA
• 2019: Graffiti Pioneers, Galerie Philipp Brogli Artstuebli, Basel, Switzerland
• 2017: Roule Petit Ougandais, Kolly Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2016: Hommage to Dieter Roth, Biennale Wangen, Wangen an der Aare, Switzerland
• 2015: Cosmic Flush, Magda Danysz Gallery, London, United Kingdom
• 2015: 1/12, Egli Space, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2015: Fifty Fifty, Kolly Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland
• 2015: Past & Future, Kolly Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2014: Union, Pointless Act, Réunion Off Space, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2014: No Title, Kolly Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2013: Pimp My Painting, Message Salon Esther Eppstein, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2013: Friends, Twoseven Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, NY, USA
• 2013: Jet Age, so+ba Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
• 2013: No title, Galerie Grizot, Paris, France
• 2012: Organic Structures, Annasatoko Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
• 2012: Neo Vandalism, Stroke, Urban Art Fair, Neo Vandalism Art Gallery, Munich, Germany
• 2012: Similitudes, Galerie Ziegler SA, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2012: The Aerosol Experience, Galerie Ziegler SA, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2011: 5/1, Il Rivellino Art Gallery, Locarno, Switzerland
• 2011: Uberpush, Pfauen Offspace, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2010: Delete, Starkart Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2009: Starkart, Starkart Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2001: Video Art, Johann Jacobs Museum, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1995: Anarchy and Aerosol, Historic Museum Baden, Baden, Switzerland
• 1992: Kunstszene Zurich, Galerie Susi Brunner, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1992: La Table de Nuit, Gallery 210, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1992: Rammellzee, Retrospective of The Equation, The Battle Station Satellite, New York, NY, USA

Art in public space and commissioned projects (selection)
• 2025: Meditated Vandalism: Farbanschlag in sieben Repetitionen (Paint Attack in Seven Repetitions), commissioned work for Theo Hotz Partner Architects, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2024: Always Right, Urban Art Biennale, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Völklingen Ironworks, Germany
• 2023: MUVA (The Monolith), Museum of Urban and Vandalism Art, Solothurn, Switzerland
• 2022: Flora Magica, mandate for a mural, Rapperswil-Jona, St. Gallen, Switzerland
• 2017: Christoph Blocher, mandate for a mural, Campus Attisholz, Solothurn, Switzerland
• 2017: Meditated Vandalism, mandate for a painting, KKL, Blueballs Festival, Lucern, Switzerland
• 2016: Hommage to Dieter Roth, paintings and installation, Biennale Wangen, Wangen an der Aare, Switzerland
• 2015: Time Frame, mandate for paintings/sculptures, Art collection of the Canton of Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland
• 2015: The End of Language, mandate for a sculpture/painting, Grafik15, Art Fair, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2013: The Answer My Friend, drawing/performance, Louvre, Paris, France
• 2012: Hurt, painting/performance/installation, Bahnhof Tiefenbrunnen, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1993: Time Train, mandate for paintings/sculptures, Art collection of the Canton of Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland
• 1990: Graffiti is Dead, mandate for a mural, State of Zurich, Head Office of Civil Defence Departement, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1990: Wild Styles, mandate for six murals, City of Zurich, The Civil Engineering Office, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1988: Whirl, mandate for a mural, City of Zurich, Departement of Culture, Hechtplatz Theater, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1986: Wild Writers, mandate for 3 murals, City of Zurich, VBZ Public Transport Authority, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1982: Graffiti and Urban Art projects in New York City, Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich, and other cities (1982 to 1994)

Performances (selection)
• 2025: Stephan Wittwer Tribute, Kunstraum Walcheturm, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2024: Always Rigth, UrbanArt Biennale, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Völklingen Ironworks, Germany
• 2021: Pictures at an Exhibition, Multimedia Opera, Solothurn, Switzerland
• 2020: Cycle, for Hochparterre, Magazine for architecture, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2017: Duality, Hongakuji Bok-Koku School of Calligraphy, Tokyo, Japan
• 2017: Free Style Battle, Kaat Kanagawa Arts Theatre, Yokohama, Japan
• 2017: Meditated Vandalism, Blue Balls Festival, Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre, Lucern, Switzerland
• 2017: La Perle, IOIC – Institute of Incoherent Cinématography, Misterioso Jazz Club, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2017: Meditated Vandalism, Galerie Philipp Brogli Artstübli, Basel, Switzerland
• 2016: Meditated Vandalism, Kolly Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2016: Hommage to Dieter Roth, Biennale Wangen, Wangen an der Aare, Switzerland
• 2015: The End of Language, Grafik 15 Art Fair, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2014: Dearly Beloved, Pointless Act, Réunion Off Space, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2014: Now is Gone, Galerie Lisi Hämmerle, Bregenz, Austria
• 2013: Kenryo Hara vs Gen Atem, Otori Kaikan, Tokyo, Japan
• 2013: Die Grenzwelt, Zukunft Club, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2012: Hurt, Museum Helmhaus, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2012: In The Name of…, Annasatoko Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
• 2012: Die Grenzwelt, Exil Club, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2012: Blank City Calling: Container, Spunk Culture Club, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2011: The Aerosol Experience, Galerie Ziegler SA, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2011: Atem vs Chrétien, Il Rivellino Art Gallery, Locarno, Switzerland
• 2011: Executions, Milk Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
• 2010: The Twelve Links, Galerie Parzelle, Basel, Switzerland
• 2009: Going Over, BlamBlamBlam Gallery, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2009: Give and Take, Museum of Design, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1996: Das T.E.A.M., Moods, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1996: Das T.E.A.M., Kunstraum Walcheturm, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1994: Rammellzee vs Gen U One, The Battle Station Satellite, New York City, USA
• 1994: A Voices Ceremony, Café Zähringer, Zurich, Switerland
• 1993: Rammellzee vs Gen U One, Eigen+Art Gallery, New York City, USA
• 1993: A Voices Ceremony, Kunstraum SRO, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1992: Time Stoppers, Knotted Minds…: Rammellzee vs Gen U One, The Battle Station Satellite, New York City, USA
• 1992: The Gargoylian Books of Stock: Rammellzee vs Gen U One, Gallery Yaki Kornblit, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• 1992: Retrospective of the Equation: Rammellzee vs Gen U One, MSS Gallery, New York City, USA
• 1991: The Gargoylian Books of Stock: Rammellzee vs Gen U One, The Battle Station Satellite, New York City, USA
• 1989: Echoes of Wild Style, Kunsthaus Oerlikon, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1989: While I Kiss the Sky, University of Applied Sciences, Rapperswil, Switzerland

Music (selection)
• 2023: I Can See You, Studio Single, with Paradox Six
• 2022: Lost Tracks, Studio Solo Album
• 2020: Truth, Studio Solo Album
• 2014: Not Here, Studio Solo Album
• 1992: The Subway Monk, Studio Solo Album (released in 2017)

Academic, Educational and Political Activities (Selection)
• 2025: Municipal Executive Council (Gemeinderat), Herbetswil, Canton of Solothurn, Switzerland, for the legislative period 2025–2029
• 2025: Jury Member, ETH Zurich, THEO Architecture Award, Zurich, Switzerland
• 2022–present: Lecturer in Color Theory and Visual Design, Higher College of Arts and Design, St. Gallen, Switzerland
• 1999–2009: Lecturer in Buddhist Philosophy and Meditation at various high schools in the Canton of Zurich and at The Four Seasons Center for Mindfulness and Meditation, Zurich, Switzerland
• 1997–1999: Apprentice Instructor in Graphic Design, Bost Productions, Maur, Switzerland
• 1986–1994: Mentor in Style Writing, Type Design, and Typography, AVC, Zurich, Switzerland

Resonance (selection)
• 2025: Judith Frei: Kunst muss den politischen Anspruch auf Freiheit vertreten. In Solothurner Zeitung (April 10, 2025).
• 2025: Anzeiger Thal: Wahl in den Gemeinderat. On anzeigertgo (April 10, 2025).
• 2025: Kunstbulletin: Always Right. On kunstbulletin (April 2025).
• 2025: Gen Atem / Miriam Bossard: Always Right, ISNB 978-3-9525372-4-4.
• 2025: Felix Reich: Das Gute ist nicht verhandelbar. In Reformiert Zeitung (Januar 2025).
• 2024: Ramm:Ell:Zee, Racing For Thunder. Rizzoli Electa and New Canons, ISBN 978-0-8478-9937-1.
• 2024: Upper Class – Out of Nowhere. Druck Buch Verlag, ISBN 978-3-033-10495-2.
• 2024: Robert Kaltenhäuser: Always Right. On UNESCO Weltkulturerbe Völklinger Hütte.
• 2024: Urban Art Biennale 2024, UNESCO World Heritage: Always Right, documentary film (October 2024).
• 2024: Rahel Bühler: New York, Zürich, Herbetswil. In Solothurner Zeitung (April 24, 2024).
• 2023: Werne Feller / Tom Lauterbach: Recording 3.0. BTS Beneath The Surface, ISNB 978-3-98-211492-7.
• 2023: Gen Atem: Kunst und Kapital. In Recording 3.0. BTS Beneath The Surface, ISNB 978-3-98-211492-7.
• 2023: Urs Byland: Lohnender Blick zurück auf 14 Jahre Kunst. In Solothurner Zeitung (June 15, 2023).
• 2023: Martina Gloor: Ein goldener Monolith im Attisholz. In soaktuell (May 25, 2023).
• 2023: Urs Byland: Ein Museum für die Sprayerkunst. In Solothurner Zeitung (May 17, 2023).
• 2021: Eva Buhrfeind: Momente zwischen Wahrheit und Schatten. In Solothurner Zeitung (October 12, 2021).
• 2022: Gen Atem / Miriam Bossard: Farbenlehre. Edition Bossard Wettstein, ISBN 978-3-9525372-3-7.
• 2022: Gen Atem / Miriam Bossard: Flora Magica. Edition Bossard Wettstein, ISBN 978-3-9525372-2-0.
• 2022: Rahel Marti: Flora Magica. In Hochparterre – Journal for Architecture and Design (August 2022).
• 2022: Jérôme Stern: Die Unterführung in Jona ist ihr Atelier. In Linth Zeitung (May 31, 2022).
• 2022: Linth24: Vom Unort zum Kunstwerk (May 13, 2022).
• 2022: Gen Atem / Miriam Bossard: Meditated Vandalism: Form is Emptiness, ISBN 978-3-9525372-1-3.
• 2021: Die Ostschweiz: Rapperswil-Jona wird verschönert.
• 2021: Jérôme Stern: Dieses Paar verwandelt… On Linth24 (November 7, 2021).
• 2021: Mirjam Staudenmann: Lieber Solothurn als ein Hamsterrad. On Zmitz (October 6, 2021).
• 2021: Silvia Rietz: Mussorgsky ganz neu interpretiert. In Aargauer Zeitung (September 2, 2021).
• 2021: Stadt Rapperswil-Jona: Flora Magica siegt… (August 31, 2021).
• 2021: Jérôme Stern: Flora Magica siegt… On Linth24 (August 31, 2021).
• 2020: The Graffiti Review: Read All About It (December 27, 2020).
• 2020: Thierry Furger: Graffiti an der Line in Basel. Thierry Furger Verlag.
• 2020: Pierroz: Gen Atem, The Tanks You Role. On Vitaltransformer (February 25, 2020).
• 2020: Leoni Hof: Mit langem Atem. In Komplex Magazin (January 10, 2020).
• 2019: Gen Atem: Form is Emptiness. In: Boulevard – On Trespassing and Culture, No. 1 – Classics, Hitzerot Druckwerke.
• 2019: Widewalls – Modern and Contemporary Art Resource: Gen Atem, Exhibitions.
• 2019: Trix Barmettler: Pointless Act. On Pointless Acts (November 21, 2014).
• 2019: RCKSTR Magazin #94: Die Grenzwelt live at EXIL Club Zurich. Archived on Issuu (September 2012).
• 2019: Klemens Wempe: Blank City Calling. On Sonic Records blog (June 4, 2012).
• 2019: Resident Advisor: Die Grenzwelt live at Zukunft Club, Zurich (May 8, 2013).
• 2019: Philipp Brogli: “Gen Atem”. In: artyou (May 3, 2014).
• 2019: Sophie Hardach: Basel in the spotlight…. In The Guardian (April 19, 2018).
• 2019: Pierroz: Gen Atem und Miriam Bossard “Truth”. On Vitaltransformer (April 12, 2019).
• 2019: Dascha Lüscher: Kunst aus der Leere und Fülle. On SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (March 2, 2019).
• 2019: SRF Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen: Erst meditieren, dann explodieren (March 1, 2019).
• 2019: Matthias Ackeret: Truth. In Persönlich Magazin (March 2019).
• 2019: Anna Raymann: Wahrheit durch die rosa Brille. On Hochparterre – Zeitschrift für Architektur + Design (March 20, 2019).
• 2019: Philipp Brogli: Meditated Vandalism. On Artstübli (January 11, 2017).
• 2019: Susanne Schneider: Gen Atem über das grösste Urban‑Art‑Wandbild der Schweiz…. In SoRock Kulturmagazin Solothurn (January 2019).
• 2018: Philipp Anz, Jules Spinatsch & Viola Zimmermann: Schmieren / Kleben, from the Archive KKIII of the Zurich City Police, 1976–1989, Edition Patrick Frey.
• 2018: David Gartmann: Pretty Zeecity Retrospective. David Gartmann Verlag, ISBN 978-3-0330-6760-8.
• 2018: Urs Byland: Das Attisholz…. In Solothurner Zeitung (August 13, 2018).
• 2018: Benjamin Rosch & Naomi Gregoris: “Basel Line”: Den Anfang machte ein Zürcher. In Basler Zeitung (July 14, 2018).
• 2018: Pierroz Peter Bolli aka Alfred Koller: Grosse Kunst oder grosser Mist. On Vitaltransformer (February 25, 2018).
• 2017: Werne Feller / Tom Lauterbach: Recording 1.0. Surface Books, ISBN 978-3-939855-48-4.
• 2017: Pierroz Peter Bolli aka Alfred Koller: Meditated Vandalism. On Vitaltransformer (November 1, 2017).
• 2017: Hans Uli Von Erlach: Meditated Vandalism. In Finanz und Wirtschaft – Luxe-Magazin.
• 2017: Hannes Hug: Meet the Artists. On The Blue Balls Festival YouTube channel (July 30, 2017).
• 2017: Brigitte Schmid‑Gugler: Weiss die Tarnfarbe, dass ich bin? In St. Galler Tagblatt (June 18, 2017).
• 2017: Peter Surber: Museumstag: Fülle und Leere. In Saiten Kulturmagazin (May 19, 2017).
• 2017: Pierroz: Last DeadMaus YearNight. On Vitaltransformer (March 29, 2017).
• 2017: Mara Sartore: Meditated Vandalism. On My Art Guides (February 2017).
• 2017: Enrico Sitelli: Meditated Vandalism. On MutualArt (February 20, 2017).
• 2017: Enrico Sitelli: Meditated Vandalism. On Vernissage TV (February 20, 2017).
• 2017: Der Tote Koller: Drowning The Dead. On Vitaltransformer (January 17, 2021).
• 2017: Collagen. On Neues Deutschland (January 13, 2017).
• 2016: Meret Ernst: Wiederkunst. In Hochparterre (archived by ETH Zurich).
• 2016: Rémi Jaccard, DPhil: Meditated Vandalism. Hatje Cantz Verlag, Berlin, ISBN 978-3-7757-4183-5.
• 2016: Terrence Sanders: 101 Contemporary Artists. ArtVoices Art Books, Los Angeles, ISBN 978-0692650820.
• 2016: Otmar Maag Migel: ZeeCity. Otmar Maag Migel & M.O.D.-Verlag, ISBN 978-3-0330-4603-0.
• 2016: Walter Aeschimann: Zwischen Zen und Zorn. In Neue Zürcher Zeitung (December 11, 2016).
• 2016: Karin Moser: Künstler Gen Atem: Der “Genius”. In Neue Zürcher Zeitung (December 8, 2016).
• 2016: Michael André Ankermüller: Würdigung und Ablehnung eigener Vorbilder. On Blog Bohème (November 2, 2016).
• 2016: Alex Pistoia: Gen Atem’s Solo Show and Book Release. On 14K Magazine (October 6, 2016).
• 2016: Muriel Gnehm: Platsch. In Tages-Anzeiger (October 5, 2016).
• 2016: Angie Kordic: Gen Atem Graffiti Exhibition is Coming to Kolly Gallery. On Widewalls (October 3, 2016).
• 2016: Robert Grogg: Daniela Roth sieht Grün. In Langenthaler Tagblatt (June 24, 2016).
• 2016: Alex Winiger: Gen‑U‑One. On mural.ch (March 3, 2016).
• 2016: Walter Aeschimann: Grelle Zeichen aus dem Untergrund. In Neue Zürcher Zeitung (March 4, 2016).
• 2016: Jean‑Marc Nia: Am Anfang war die Wand. In Tages-Anzeiger (February 19, 2016).
• 2015: Niels Shoe Meulman: Abstract Vandalism. Unruly Publishing, ISBN 978-9082340709.
• 2015: Canton of Zurich: Time Frame. On Kanton Zürich website.
• 2015: Prix Visarte: Time Frame. (2015).
• 2015: Gen Atem / Miriam Bossard: Time Frame. ISBN 978-303305-280-2.
• 2015: Walter Phillips: Time Frame. On Daily Tonic by Architonic (November 23, 2015).
• 2015: Pierroz: Gen Atem “Not Here” (Das Album). On Vitaltransformer (May 21, 2015).
• 2015: Pierroz: Vandalenakt an der Grafik 15. On Vitaltransformer (March 16, 2015).
• 2014: Urgesteine gegen die Vergänglichkeit. In Vorarlberger Nachrichten (December 4, 2014).
• 2014: Inge El‑Himoud‑Sperlich: Stars in Rot, Felsen in Weiss. In Neue Kultur (November 25, 2014).
• 2014: Ana Bambic: Meditated Vandalism. On Widewalls (June 28, 2014).
• 2014: Cédric Auer: “Gen Atem”. On The CHTV YouTube channel (May 9, 2014).

Archives and collections (selection)
• Library of Congress, USA
• Deutsche Nationalbibliothek, Germany
• Swiss National Library, Switzerland
• SIKART, the Swiss Institute for Art Research, Switzerland
• Discography at Discogs, USA
• Historical Museum at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Völklingen Ironworks, Germany
• Historical Museum Baden, Switzerland
• Museum of Emptiness, St. Gallen, Switzerland
• Canton of Zurich Art Collection, Switzerland
• Canton of Solothurn Art Collection, Switzerland
• City of Zurich (Art in public space), Switzerland
• City of Rapperswil-Jona (Art in public space), Switzerland
• Institutional and Private Collections Internationally


© 2025 Gen Atem, all rights reserved.

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