Christian Bernard, founding director of MAMCO, dies at 76

Christian Bernard, a prominent Franco-Swiss figure in the contemporary art world, has passed away at the age of 76 following a long illness. He died on Thursday, August 4.

Bernard was best known as the inaugural director of the Musée d’art moderne et contemporain (MAMCO) in Geneva, a position he held from 1994 to 2015. During his tenure, he reshaped the institution's identity by blurring the lines between permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, fostering an environment of critical thought and constant movement.

His career spanned four decades and included directing the Villa Arson in Nice from 1986 to 1994, where he integrated art education with research and exhibition spaces. He also contributed to the creation of the Fonds régional d’art contemporain (FRAC) Rhône-Alpes and founded the publishing house Walden n. In addition to his curatorial and directorial work, Bernard was an accomplished poet; he recently noted on social media that he had been awarded the Académie française Grand Prix de poésie 2026.