Swiss Painter Renée Levi Unveils Vibrant New Façade on London’s Hayward Gallery

Swiss artist Renée Levi has created a new artwork titled 'September' for the façade of London’s Hayward Gallery. The project is a co-commission by Audemars Piguet Contemporary and the Southbank Centre’s Hayward Gallery. The two-panel painting is displayed on the exterior of the Hayward Gallery from 23 September to 15 November 2026.

Levi’s work on 'September' spanned nearly two years, during which she explored industrial materials suitable for outdoor installation. For this project, she used a synthetic mesh, a type of netting commonly employed for large-scale advertising banners, instead of her usual linen. This choice was made to accommodate the wind and outdoor conditions present on the gallery’s façade.

The selection of the Hayward Gallery as the site for the artwork was influenced by the building’s structure. Levi was particularly drawn to a long horizontal window, which she found to be very painterly. This window became the central element of her composition, guiding the placement and design of the painting.

Levi’s intention was not to conceal the building, but to use its architecture to present her work in an unexpected context. She sought to create a dialogue between the painting and the Brutalist structure, allowing the artwork to interact with its surroundings rather than dominate them.

The scale of the painting reflects Levi’s interest in maintaining a relationship with the human body, even when working on a monumental surface. She emphasised that the painting was made with the span of her arms, and that viewers are able to approach the work closely, almost to the point of touching it. This approach contrasts with the overwhelming effect that large architecture can sometimes have on individuals.

Visually, 'September' features sprayed lines that evoke the language of graffiti. Levi hoped that this element would create a connection with younger viewers, for whom graffiti is a familiar form of expression. She also intended for the colours of the painting to be prominent enough to attract attention from passersby.

Levi acknowledged that some people might not notice the artwork at all, which she considers to be a reflection of contemporary times. She stated that, for her, the work will only be truly finished on the day it is removed from the façade. Renée Levi is represented by Galerie Bernard Jordan in Paris, Philippzollinger in Zurich, and Galerie Knoell in Basel.