Swiss Painter Renée Levi Unveils New Façade Work at London’s Hayward Gallery

Swiss artist Renée Levi has created a new two-panel painting, titled ‘September’, for the exterior façade of London’s Hayward Gallery. This project was co-commissioned by Audemars Piguet Contemporary and the Southbank Centre’s Hayward Gallery. The artwork will be on display from September 23 to November 15, 2026, transforming the gallery’s Brutalist façade for this period.

‘September’ is the result of nearly two years of work. During this time, Levi explored new industrial materials to adapt her painting practice to the demands of an outdoor installation. She chose a synthetic mesh, a type of netting commonly used for large-scale advertising banners, instead of her usual linen canvas. This choice was made to withstand the wind and other outdoor conditions.

The selection of the Hayward Gallery’s façade was deliberate. Levi was drawn to the structure of the building, particularly a long horizontal window that she found to be very painterly. This window became the central element of her composition, influencing the placement and design of the panels.

Levi’s intention was not to conceal the building but to use its architecture to present her work in an unexpected context. She aimed to activate the façade, allowing the artwork to interact with the existing structure rather than dominate or obscure it.

The artist emphasized the importance of maintaining a relationship with the human body in her work. She created the painting using the span of her arms, and the installation is designed so that viewers can approach it closely, almost to the point of touching it. This approach contrasts with the monumentality of the building, focusing instead on a more intimate scale.

Levi incorporated sprayed lines into the painting, which may evoke associations with graffiti. She expressed hope that these elements would create a connection with younger people, as graffiti is a visual language familiar to them. The use of vibrant colors is intended to ensure the work is noticeable to passersby.

Levi acknowledged that some viewers might not perceive the artwork at all, which she sees as reflective of contemporary attitudes. For her, the work will only be truly finished on the day it is taken down. Renée Levi is represented by Galerie Bernard Jordan in Paris, Philippzollinger in Zurich, and Galerie Knoell in Basel.