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Bahay Contemporary

Michael Tulio

(Swiss, b. 1994. Lives and works in Zurich)


Michael Tulio holds a BFA degree from 
Zürcher Hochschule der Künste (ZHdK) and currently pursues a master in Fine Art from the same university.

Born and raised in Zurich, his artistic practice is characterized by a diverse and humorous exploration of the peculiarities of Swiss culture. 

Seeking to evoke positive emotions such as joy and curiosity, his work investigates spatial, cultural, and social relationships within his lived context – Switzerland. Influenced by a background in landscape architecture, the artist plays with cartography and real locations, translating them into abstract compositions that address themes of place, identity, and belonging. Everyday references, ranging from baked goods such as croissants to cultural figures like Mani Matter, serve as entry points into the curiosities of daily life in Switzerland. 

“First and foremost, I found it interesting to think about the symbolism of bread in a contemporary context – and even more specific in a swiss context. What everyday baked goods do I find around me and what meaning is attributed to them?
In Switzerland, croissants, or Gipfeli, are very popular.
The Swiss Bakers and Confectioners Association estimates that over 270,000 Gipfeli are baked here every day. I am interested in the fact that an object can be both everyday and almost iconic at the same time.”

Available artworks


A series of 40 artworks, ‘Unser täglich Brot’ reflects on the long-standing symbolism of bread in Western art and cultural history, as a Christian symbol in the Last Supper, a sign of life and nourishment, and an indicator of poverty and social inequality. Frequently depicted in still lifes, bread has come to symbolise the simplicity and quiet beauty of everyday life. Building upon these established connotations, ‘Unser täglich Brot’ translates them into a contemporary context. Focusing on the Gipfeli, an everyday baked good in Switzerland, the artist explores the tension between the ordinary and the culturally charged. Using a dipping technique, real croissants were coated in liquid porcelain and fired at over 1000 degrees Celsius, causing the bread to burn away entirely. What remains is a hollow ceramic form that abstracts the original object and invites reflection on daily rituals, consumption, and the significance of the everyday.

info@bahaycontemporary.com