Museum Tinguely

Museum Tinguely is an art museum in Basel devoted to a collection of mechanical sculptures and kinetic artworks. The building was designed by architect Mario Botta directly along the Rhine and houses the largest collection of these moving art forms.

The museum opened in 1996 to preserve and present the life work of a Swiss artist who shaped kinetic sculpture in the 20th century. His career set new standards for how movement and mechanics could be used in visual art.

The collection represents works by an artist who used machines and movement as artistic expression. These pieces challenge visitors to reconsider the boundary between engineering and creative art.

The museum sits in a riverside location and provides wheelchair access throughout the exhibition areas. Plan enough time to observe the working pieces at leisure and watch how they behave in motion.

Many of the displayed works incorporate recycled materials such as old motorcycles and machine parts, combining scrap with artistic intent. This gives the sculptures a playful and sometimes chaotic quality that catches visitors off guard.

Location: Basel

Inception: 1996

Architects: Mario Botta

Official opening: October 3, 1996

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Address: Paul Sacher-Anlage 2

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11:00-18:00

Website: https://tinguely.ch

GPS coordinates: 47.55917,7.61222

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:03