Hauser & Wirth Basel explores Manzoni’s early years

For its Basel gallery, Hauser & Wirth Basel will be delving into the early, experimental phase of Piero Manzoni (1933–1963) with ‘L’invincibile Jean’ and Early Works 1956–1957’. The show will be on view from 27 November 2025 to 14 February 2026. Curated by Rosalia Pasqualino di Marineo in close collaboration with the Fondazione Piero Manzoni, the exhibition brings together for the first time a rare selection of works from the artist’s formative years, offering a fresh perspective on one of Italy’s most influential post-war figures.

Manzoni’s brief but explosive career reshaped the Italian avant-garde. These early pieces, playful, experimental, and at times enigmatic, reveal the building blocks of his later, more famous Achromes and presage the conceptual and performance-driven strategies that would influence Arte Povera and body art. Visitors can witness the genesis of Manzoni’s radical ideas: an artist quietly redefining what art could be.

Coinciding with the show, a new monograph published by Silvana Editoriale, Hauser & Wirth, and the Fondazione Piero Manzoni will explore this pivotal period in detail. Edited by Pasqualino di Marineo and featuring an essay by scholar Choghakate Kazarian, the volume promises to deepen understanding of Manzoni’s early innovations and enduring legacy.

For collectors, curators, and anyone fascinated by post-war Italian avant-garde, ‘L’invincibile Jean’ and Early Works 1956–1957’ offers an unprecedented look at the moments that shaped an artist whose ideas still ripple through contemporary art today.

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