MEER SEEN Silhouettes by Gaby Studer

‘Sea of Lakes’ – the title is a deliberate play on words. It reflects the reality of the artist’s life, having lived and worked in the Algarve in Portugal for the past two years, whilst also serving as an invitation: to see more, to look more closely, to be moved by the reduction to black and white.Gaby Studer’s works break with the conventional notion of paper cut-outs. Whilst many think of cattle drives, black silhouettes and symmetrical patterns, she creates something fundamentally different: delicate, richly detailed depictions of nature with extraordinary depth and precision. Her creative process begins with a drawing, which she transfers onto a special type of paper for paper cutting that is robust yet wafer-thin. Instead of scissors and folding techniques, she works with a scalpel and what is known as the ‘open cut’ – a method that allows her to depict even the most delicate structures with stability. Trees, dandelions, coastlines – in every cut, she pays her own tribute to nature and invites the viewer to rediscover its subtleties.

For what is now her third solo exhibition at the Pellegrini Gallery, Gaby Studer draws inspiration from the two worlds in which she lives: the olive trees and cork oaks, the striking coastline and the Atlantic surf of the Algarve meet the tranquil lake landscapes of Switzerland. Each work is unique, created over hundreds of hours of concentrated, meditative work – masterfully reduced to black and white.Gaby Studer is one of Europe’s most renowned paper artists. Her works have been exhibited at major international exhibitions and have received numerous awards: in 2023, she was a finalist in the prestigious Arte Laguna Prize at the Arsenale di Venezia – a competition featuring over 20,000 participating artists. At the Salon des Beaux-Arts, she received three awards, including the Prix Eugène Boudin and the Prix Caractères at the Sénat in Paris in 2022, as well as the Médaille de Bronze at the Carrousel du Louvre in 2019. At the 10th Triennale Internationale du Papier in Charmey, she won both the Prix du Public and third prize from the jury.

The exhibition in Murten offers a very special experience thanks to the open studio: Gaby Studer will be present in person throughout the exhibition and will be working live in front of visitors – daily from 11.00 to 18.00, with the sole exception of Mondays. This is a rare opportunity to watch a world-class artist at close quarters as she works with a scalpel and the utmost precision to create Breathtaking worlds take shape on a single sheet of paper. An unforgettable experience for art lovers, the curious and tourists alike.Alongside the exhibition in Murten, one of Gaby Studer’s works is also on display at Charmey Paper Art in the Musée de Charmey – one of the most significant international festivals for paper art, running from 28 June 2026 to 10 January 2027. Anyone visiting the Three Lakes Region thus has the unique opportunity to discover this extraordinary artist at two locations in the region – Murten and Charmey are just under half an hour apart.Murten in September – the picturesque old town, the Three Lakes Region and the return of one of the most renowned paper artists. A visit to the Pellegrini Gallery is well worth it!