Swiss Artist Renée Levi Unveils Two-Panel Façade Work at London’s Hayward Gallery

Swiss painter Renée Levi has unveiled a new artwork titled 'September' on the façade of London’s Hayward Gallery. The project is a co-commission between Audemars Piguet Contemporary and the Southbank Centre’s Hayward Gallery, and is on view from September 23 to November 15, 2026. The installation consists of two panels, specifically created for the gallery’s exterior, marking Levi’s first time adapting her painting to an outdoor architectural context.

Levi spent nearly two years developing 'September', which led her to experiment with new industrial materials. Unlike her usual practice of painting on linen, she chose a synthetic mesh for this project. This mesh, commonly used for large-scale advertising banners, was selected to withstand the wind and outdoor conditions of the Hayward Gallery’s façade.

The choice of location was deliberate. Levi was drawn to the structure of the Hayward Gallery, particularly a long horizontal window that she found painterly and made the centre of her composition. She did not intend to hide the building, but rather to use its Brutalist architecture as a backdrop that would present her work in an unexpected context.

Levi’s approach to monumentality differs from traditional notions. She is interested in maintaining a relationship with the human body, even when working on a large scale. The painting was created with the span of her arms, and she designed it so that viewers could approach closely, almost to the point of touching it.

The visual language of 'September' includes sprayed lines, which Levi believes might resonate with younger audiences familiar with graffiti. She hopes that the colours and forms will be noticeable to passersby, but also acknowledges that some people may not see anything at all. For Levi, this ambiguity is reflective of contemporary times.

The work will remain on display until November 15, 2026. Levi considers the project truly complete only on the day it is taken down, emphasizing the temporary and site-specific nature of the installation. The process of adapting her painting to the demands of an exterior façade was a significant aspect of the project.

Renée Levi is represented by Galerie Bernard Jordan in Paris, Philippzollinger in Zurich, and Galerie Knoell in Basel. Her collaboration with Audemars Piguet Contemporary and the Hayward Gallery has resulted in a work that brings together contemporary painting and Brutalist architecture in a public setting.