LUGANO.- The Yves Klein Foundation works to promote and foster the public understanding of Yves Klein’s work through exhibitions, research projects, publications, the preservation of his body of work and the development of the catalogue raisonné.
Based in Lugano (Switzerland), the Foundation carries forward the fundamental mission initiated by its founding members, Rotraut Klein-Moquay, Yves Klein’s widow, and Daniel Moquay: to preserve, study, share with a large audience and highlight the artist’s major contribution to the history of art in the second half of the 20th century.
A key figure of the avant-garde, Yves Klein played a decisive role in redefining art, calling for the “overcoming” of its “problematic.” He radically—and poetically— transformed what art can be, the way it manifests, and the spaces and media through which it takes form, even forging his own system of values. His art, writings, and ideas laid the groundwork upon which contemporary art has developed.
Faithful to the artist’s spirit of innovation and driven by the desire to carry forward more than sixty years after his passing, the boldness and strength of his vision, the Yves Klein Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of a new research grant program. Its purpose is to support the renewal of scholarship dedicated to the artist and to encourage deeper exploration of his work, ideas and enduring creative legacy.
The first research grant will be launched in spring 2026 and from 2027 onward, the Foundation will award two grants per year. The program includes a residency and a stipend of CHF 6,000. It is intended for emerging researchers of any nationality and aims to foster new narratives, situate the artist’s work within a broader cultural context, shed light on its resonance with contemporary societal and ecological challenges and consider its reception across diverse geographies.
Through this initiative, the Foundation seeks to support a new generation of researchers by promoting mobility, facilitating access to resources and offering dedicated scholarly guidance. It aims to keep Yves Klein’s legacy alive and to situate it within the most contemporary debates, reaffirming his place as an artist whose work continues to resonate powerfully with our present.
Yves Klein Research Grant #01
Who can apply: Researchers under 35 years of age, holding a PhD or postdoctoral degree, of any nationality and country of residence, conducting research in art history, aesthetics, or the humanities.
Residency dates and duration: Autumn 2026—no later than the first half of December 2026. Exact dates will be defined with the selected grantee. A one week residency, corresponding to five working days on site.
Available funding: A research grant of CHF 6,000 to support research and writing. Travel and accommodation costs, if any, are covered by the Yves Klein Foundation.
Application deadline: Monday, June 15, 2026, 11:59pm CET.
