Benjamin Taillard Tenko
(Swiss, b. 1980. Lives and works in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel, Switzerland)
Image:
Courtesy of the artist.
Educated at the Lycée artistique Maximilien de Meuron in Neuchâtel (1997–2000) and later at the École d’Arts Appliqués de La Chaux-de-Fonds (2001–2005), where he earned a diploma in visual communication and graphic design, the artist has developed a practice that bridges graphic sensibility with contemporary art.
Recognition came early with awards at the Biennale of the Musée des Beaux-Arts in La Chaux-de-Fonds, including the Prix de la Fondation Hugenin Dumittan (2010) and the Jury Prize (2012). His work has since entered major public collections, among them the FMAC Contemporary Art Collection of Geneva (2025), the Musée des Beaux-Arts de La Chaux-de-Fonds (2016, 2021), and the Contemporary Art Heritage Collection of the Canton of Neuchâtel (2012, 2014, 2021).
Internationally active, Tenko has participated in residencies such as FUEL in Beirut (2023, supported by Pro Helvetia) and presented numerous solo exhibitions, including Milk Shake (Geneva, 2024), FUEL (Beirut, 2023), Le Lac (Brussels, 2018), Bordel (Haifa, 2016), and Issue Gallery (Paris, 2011).
The collective exhibitions span over two decades and demonstrate a sustained presence in the Swiss and international art scene. Highlights include repeated participation in the Biennale d’art contemporain de La Chaux-de-Fonds (2004, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2024), presentations at Aeroplastics, Brussels (2012), SLICK Contemporary Art Fair, Paris (2011), and Proyectos Ultravioleta, Guatemala City (2009), alongside numerous shows in Geneva, Bern, Basel, Lausanne, and Neuchâtel.
Through a career marked by institutional recognition, international residencies, and a dynamic exhibition record, the artist has established themselves as a distinctive voice in contemporary art, rooted in Swiss culture yet resonating far beyond.