Richard Paul Lohse at MASI Lugano

With the exhibition ​‘Richard Paul Lohse. System and Sensuality’, MASI Lugano is dedicating a comprehensive retrospective to one of the central protagonists of Concrete Art.

From the 1940s onwards, Richard Paul Lohse (1902 – 1988) developed a consistently modular system of images based on sequences, surface grids, and precise colour organisation. What may sound rather subdued actually unveils an almost poetic power when observed first hand: areas of colour meet and repeat themselves, breaking rhythm and defying expectation – without departing from the system. The exhibition at MASI Lugano is on display until 11 January 2026 and has been created in close collaboration with the Richard Paul Lohse Foundation in Zurich. Visitors can look forward to over fifty works from different creative phases – including paintings, works on paper, and key print works. The MASI is exhibiting his iconic multicolour systems, which exemplify both his formal rigidity and his visual freedom. The exhibition highlights how Lohse redefined the concept of painting: not as an expression of the subject, but as a clearly structured image construction.

Combining art, graphic design and attitude

Lohse was not just a painter, but also a politically minded designer. As co-founder of the Allianz – an association of modern Swiss artists – in the 1930s, he always understood art as a social responsibility. His work oscillates between rational composition and aesthetic sensuality. What at first glance appears geometrically strict upon further examination unfolds great emotional depth– a tension that is also reflected in the exhibition title: System and Sensuality.

A work that continues to have an impact

With this retrospective, MASI not only honours the artistic legacy of one of the most influential Swiss artists of the 20th century, but is also making his work accessible to new generations. Especially in the digital age, in which grids, repetition, and visual order have become part of our everyday lives, Lohse’s systems seem more relevant than ever. The exhibition has been curated by Tina Grassi (MASI Lugano) in collaboration with the Richard Paul Lohse Foundation.

Richard Paul Lohse. System and Sensuality
Location: MASI Lugano, LAC
Duration: until 11 January 2026
Admission: CHF 15 (concession CHF 10), free admission on Sundays
Further information: luganolac​.ch

Don’t miss a thing — we’ll keep you up to date!

Sign up for our newsletter.