Werner Thaler

1941 - 1962
Werner Thaler was born in 1941 in Basel, Switzerland, and grew up there in modest circumstances. After finishing school, he began an apprenticeship as an interior decorator and furniture designer. He then worked part-time in this profession while also attending lectures in art history at the School of Applied Arts with Prof. Dr. Georg Schmied. During this time, he developed as an autodidact in oil painting and created sculptural works from clay and plaster.

1963 - 1972
Thaler decided to work as a freelance artist and regularly participated in exhibitions and art projects, including the Christmas exhibition at the Kunsthalle Basel, where his works were exhibited for the first time. In addition to painting, he carried out decorative work, designed trade fair booths, and married his beloved wife Silvia, who has been a strong partner by his side ever since and shared his artistic vision. In 1965, Thaler received the "Free Scholarship from the Canton of Basel-Stadt and spent a study period in Paris.

With the support of the Education Department of Basel-Stadt, Thaler became the first artist to occupy a studio at the Cité Internationale in Paris in 1967. He joined the Farnsburg Group and developed close relationships with active artistic communities, including those that polarized at the time. Thaler's works were subsequently acquired by the Art Credit Basel and the Kunstmuseum Basel. His works were also exhibited internationally during this time. With another scholarship from the Canton of Basel-Stadt, Thaler deepened his knowledge of wood processing, concrete casting, and various plastic techniques. During this phase, his interest in sculpture grew.

1973 – 1982
He began training as a painting restorer in the studio of Dieter Faller in Basel and with Enzo Dionesi in Bologna to deepen his knowledge of craftsmanship. This training had a lasting impact on his later approach to his own art and also offered him the opportunity to earn additional income during financially weaker months. During this time, he also renovated a Lombard farmhouse in Ticino, redesigned it, and created a beautiful garden with a biotope – a place that served as a source of strength and creativity for him and somewhat satisfied his longing for nature. The house is still owned by the family.

1983 – 2026

In 1972, his first son, Fabian, was born, and in December 1982, his second son, Elias, completed the family. In 1989, Thaler held his solo exhibition “Zwischen Erde und Himmel” (“Between Earth and Heaven”) at the Ausstellungsraum Klingental in Basel. In October 2024, with the exhibition “La-Censura” at the Basel Art Center, he brought his active artistic career to a close and retired from the art world due to his age. On 12 July 2026, Werner Thaler passed away unexpectedly in Basel – happy and content, with the knowledge that he had lived a fulfilling life and created a rich body of artistic work. His art and artistic legacy live on. Since 2023, his son Elias has been responsible for the care and management of Werner Thaler’s entire artistic estate. With a deep understanding of his father’s artistic vision and profound appreciation for his work, he is committed to preserving Werner Thaler’s artistic legacy for the long term, carrying it forward and making it accessible to an international audience. In doing so, he opens Thaler’s work to new generations of art enthusiasts, collectors and institutions.

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