In a landmark move for the integration of art and nature, the Fondation Beyeler near Basel has introduced a pioneering curatorial role dedicated entirely to its landscape, a project made possible through the support of the Chanel Culture Fund. The museum is already well-known for its commitment to environmental art, and is now extending this vision beyond its galleries and into the surrounding living ecosystem.
A new chapter in environmental art Stewardship
For the first time in its nearly 30-year history, the Fondation Beyeler has appointed a botanical curator. Swiss academic Rahel Kesselring steps into the role with a mission to elevate the museum’s gardens, ponds and centuries-old trees to the same cultural significance as the artworks they surround.
Her work will focus on ecological preservation, botanical research, and public engagement programs designed to immerse visitors in the museum’s natural environment.
A Chanel Culture Fund partnership rooted in art and nature integration
The newly created position is funded by the Chanel Culture Fund, which has been building a global portfolio of long-term, transformative cultural collaborations. Chanel’s support enables the museum to expand its curatorial practice outdoors, strengthening the dialogue between landscape and artistry.
According to the Fund’s representatives, this initiative reflects Chanel’s commitment to achieving a non-commercial cultural impact by championing ideas that will shape the future of creativity, sustainability, and community engagement. This multi-year partnership provides an example of how luxury brands can strengthen cultural ecosystems without relying on traditional sponsorship formats.
A vision for the future of curating
Kesselring’s appointment signals a shift in how museums may rethink their cultural responsibilities. Her work will include:
- Developing conservation plans for the museum’s flora and fauna
- Designing educational and public programming centered on ecological understanding
- Collaborating with scientists, artists and curatorial teams to create projects that merge landscape and artistic practice
- Reinforcing the museum grounds as a living cultural space shaped by climate awareness
She has described the role as an opportunity to “rewrite our understanding of our relationship with the natural world,” placing plants and ecology at the heart of contemporary cultural dialogue.
The collaboration between the museum and the Chanel Culture Fund marks a remarkable step toward redefining how culture, nature and innovation coexist — setting a precedent for art spaces worldwide.
THE FONDATION BEYELER in Switzerland
Photography by MARK NIEDERMAN, courtesy of FONDATION BEYELER
