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.

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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.

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1983 – 2026

In 1972, his first son, Fabian, was born, followed by his second son, Elias, in December 1982. 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 advancing 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. On 24 September 2026, his family, together with his closest friends, gathered in Basel to bid him farewell and accompany him on his final journey. We remember Werner Thaler with deep affection and gratitude. We mourn the loss of a beloved person and, at the same time, an artist who, over many decades, created an extraordinary body of work with great passion and a distinctive artistic voice. What remains is the memory of him and an extensive artistic legacy that has enriched the art world and will endure far beyond his lifetime. His family is deeply grateful for all that Werner Thaler has left behind, both as a person and as an artist. Since 2023, his son Elias has been responsible for overseeing and managing Werner Thaler’s entire artistic estate. With a keen understanding of his father’s artistic vision and a deep appreciation of his work, he is committed to preserving and carrying forward Werner Thaler’s artistic legacy and making it accessible to an international audience. In doing so, he is opening the work to new generations of art enthusiasts, collectors and institutions.

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