John M. Armleder (Swiss, b. 1948), FS 160

Acrylic on linen assembled with Roland electronic pianos, 1987, retaining collection label, gallery wrapped canvas.

120 x 80 x 5 in.

The Martha and Robert Fogelman Collection, Memphis, Tennessee

John Armleder is a Swiss artist, curator, and critic whose practice spans painting, sculpture, installation, performance, and design. In 1969, he co-founded the Groupe Écart, an artist collective and space that presented exhibitions, performances, and publications, helping to introduce Fluxus, conceptual art, and experimental practices to Switzerland. Deeply influenced by avant-garde strategies of chance and collaboration, Armleder often integrates everyday objects, including musical instruments, into his works as both sculptural elements and performative tools.

Best known for his “Furniture Sculptures,” begun in the late 1970s, Armleder combines functional objects — such as chairs, tables, or pianos — with abstract paintings or installations, challenging traditional divisions between art and utility. Across a career spanning five decades, Armleder has exhibited internationally, with major retrospectives at the Centre Pompidou, the Swiss Institute, and MAMCO Geneva. His works, which range from geometric abstraction, gestural painting, and sculptural assemblages, are represented in major museums and private collections worldwide.

A few paint spots and grime scuffs to the canvas.