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Hans Ulrich Obrist Life in Progress /anglais
World-renowned curator Hans Ulrich Obrist for the first time grants a private view of his life, and his journey towards art and artists
When Hans Ulrich was six years old, he was knocked down by a speeding car as he was crossing the street. Hospitalized for weeks, a sense of urgency was instilled in him. Enraptured by the healing powers of art from this young age, he began to travel across Europe on night trains, visiting artists’ studios.
In a book that is part unputdownable coming-of-age story, part tour de force of the contemporary art world, part user’s manual on how to live a life driven by curiosity, conversation, and not least hope, Obrist takes us through the formative experiences that made him. From his first exhibition in his Zurich kitchen to penning 250 postcards while trapped by an avalanche in Val Bregaglia, Life in Progress is an enchanting ode to the healing properties that engaging with art and the people around us boundlessly affords.
When Hans Ulrich was six years old, he was knocked down by a speeding car as he was crossing the street. Hospitalized for weeks, a sense of urgency was instilled in him. Enraptured by the healing powers of art from this young age, he began to travel across Europe on night trains, visiting artists’ studios.
In a book that is part unputdownable coming-of-age story, part tour de force of the contemporary art world, part user’s manual on how to live a life driven by curiosity, conversation, and not least hope, Obrist takes us through the formative experiences that made him. From his first exhibition in his Zurich kitchen to penning 250 postcards while trapped by an avalanche in Val Bregaglia, Life in Progress is an enchanting ode to the healing properties that engaging with art and the people around us boundlessly affords.
- GenresMemoir
160 pages, Hardcover
Published October 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 15, 2026
Obrist's passion for art as a lens through which to view the world is contagious. This book made me want to see things and make things. At the same time, I found it a little opaque; Obrist's prose is plainspoken, but he doesn't share a lot about his personal life or inner landscape. This is an artist's-artist book (I'm not a visual artist), and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who creates or curates visual art.
December 31, 2025
Very lovely and inspiring encounter with one of the most influential people in art. I loved almost every bit of it, but the last few chapters read more like 'I need to mention these people' than really necessary.
November 26, 2025
A memoir of Hans Ulrich Obrist, one of the most famous and productive art curators. It was told in short vignettes and I was pleasantly surprised by how succint and quick read it was.
December 19, 2025
gorgeously well-written memoir about a very intriguing curator. would definitely recommend this one. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews