Heinrich Bobst

1946 Zürich, Switzerland - 2025 Zürich, Switzerland

Heinrich Bobst was born in 1946 in Zurich and grew up in Balsthal (Canton of Solothurn). After completing an apprenticeship as a laboratory technician, he studied chemistry at the Technikum Winterthur. Even during his studies, his interest in design became evident: in 1963, he created his first spatial object using recycled materials, followed by photographic experiments and furniture design.

Professionally, Bobst initially worked in the chemical industry, both in the Bahamas and in Switzerland. During technical experiments, he created innovative objects from PVC. His first encounters with contemporary art came in the early 1970s through visits to the Art Basel exhibitions.

Alongside his management career at Uni-Chemie AG, he continued to develop furniture and spatial objects. In 1980, he moved into a single-family home with an adjoining workshop. From 1984 onward, he focused intensively on lighting design and architecture. A business phase from 1993 to 2001 left little time for artistic work. Only after selling his company shares did he return fully to creative pursuits.

Starting in 2005, a new artistic phase began, focusing on painting, object art, and spatial installations. In 2008, he founded the “Kunstlabor” (Art Lab) in Zurich, which was expanded in 2011. He began experimenting with materials such as steel and dichroic acrylic glass.

Since 2009, Bobst has exhibited regularly in both national and international exhibitions. In 2013, he held his first solo exhibition, and in 2014 he participated in the Venice Architecture Biennale.

Heinrich Bobst lived and worked in Zurich. His work exists at the intersection of art, design, technology, and spatial perception.