Édouard Chapallaz : céramiste suisse

Exhibition at the MUDAC, Lausanne, 25 September 2026 – 31 January 2027

Édouard Chapallaz (1921–2016) is one of Switzerland’s greatest contemporary ceramicists. He is particularly renowned for the formal power of his works, his mastery of glazes and the depth of the artistic research underpinning his approach. His highly personal artistic language represents the convergence of traditional craftsmanship, technical experimentation and sculptural ambition. His forms, often monumental in scale, reflect a constant exploration of the properties of clay, the effects of fire and the expressive possibilities of ceramic surfaces.

This catalogue of the first comprehensive retrospective of Chapallaz’s life and work highlights the evolution and context of the ceramicist’s art, as well as his aesthetic and technical challenges, through essays by specialists. Richly illustrated with images of works, studio photographs, letters and other archival documents, the book also features an illustrated chronology of the artist’s life and previously unpublished texts by Chapallaz himself, offering an insight into his reflections on materials, glazes and firing techniques.