BICICLETTART – Marcus Keller

In BICICLETTART, Marcus Keller (b. 1965, Basel) whose formative training as a goldsmith informs his finely honed sensibility, transforms original Italian bicycles from the 1970s and ’80s into singular sculptural objects that function simultaneously as historical reference and contemporary design study. Drawing on his expertise in both jewelry and furniture design, Keller applies a delicate yet incisive intervention to the mechanical iconography of these Velos, preserving their technical integrity while subtly reworking frames, saddles, and paint finishes. Matte-brushed metal surfaces are juxtaposed with vibrant color accents and discreet engravings that weave formal quotations and free allusions to Pop Art icons such as Keith Haring and Andy Warhol.

From this dialectic of originality and reinvention emerges a distinctive visual language in which everyday cultural artefacts become vessels of poetic narrative. The exhibition invites visitors to stand at the threshold between sheer functionality and artistic repositioning, and encourages a deeper discourse on material aesthetics as well as the societal connotations of mobility and innovation in the ensuing artist’s talk.

Contact:

 Artstübli - Kunst & Kultur, Steinentorberg 28, Basel

 Philipp Brogli, Director

 +41792879923