At the heart of artistic innovation lies the courage to break new ground—an ethos long championed by Swiss publisher and collector Michael Ringier. As the initiator of the Roarington Art Center, Ringier is not simply supporting a new venue for exhibitions — he is reshaping the future of how art is curated, experienced, and remembered.
Ringier’s philosophy is rooted in a deep understanding of what makes art matter. It’s not technical mastery that defines a masterpiece, but the newness of the idea. This belief mirrors how avant-garde artists like Picasso, Munch, and Malevich once transformed the cultural landscape. Picasso’s Guernica, Munch’s The Scream, and Malevich’s Black Square were all revolutionary statements that redefined their time — and continue to resonate today.
Ringier applies this same lens to design and automotive culture. He sees the artistic essence in the timeless lines of the Cisitalia 202, or the sculptural permanence of a Porsche 911 SC — both icons that blur the lines between function and form, art and engineering. In his view, classic cars and fine art share a common creative origin and cultural significance. Now, Ringier brings this vision to the digital frontier.
Launching in autumn 2025, the Roarington Art Center is a pioneering initiative born from his collection and his conviction. Designed by architect Benedetto Camerana and set in the heart of Roarington’s virtual dreamland, the center will debut with a major retrospective by Matt Mullican — a digital art pioneer whose work anticipated today’s metaverse back in 1989.
For Ringier, this is more than an exhibition. It’s a declaration: that art has a place in the future, just as it has shaped our past. The Roarington Art Center will display digital twins of real artworks, curated with the same depth and rigor as physical galleries — only now, they are accessible from anywhere, at any time.
During Art Basel in Basel 2025, visitors received an exclusive preview in the VIP lounge and along the Unlimited walkway. This is where Ringier’s vision comes to life—immersive, enduring, and intellectually bold.
From Expressionist canvases to sculpted Ferraris, from Bauhaus lines to virtual cities, Michael Ringier’s commitment to the artistic core remains unwavering. Through the Roarington Art Center, he invites a new generation of collectors, curators, and cultural pioneers to help shape what comes next.
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In a world increasingly mediated by screens, the Roarington Art Center dares to ask: What if the screen itself became sacred space?
