©Musée Ariana
Inspired by a collection of poetry by Gertrude Stein, the exhibition Tender Buttons offers a transdisciplinary, multi-faceted approach to a singular type of object. Over three hundred buttons interact with works from the Musée Ariana, dating from the 18th century to the present day.
Ceramic and glass buttons are the medium of formal experimentation, but also sources of survival, identity expression and collaboration. The little-known social histories of these everyday objects are showcased in an architecture reminiscent of the commercial covered passageways of the 19th century, a key period for the industrialization of porcelain and glass buttons.
The exhibition is supported by MuMode (Swiss Fashion Museum) in Yverdon-les-Bains, with a previously unseen selection from their Musée du Bouton d'Estévenans collection, augmented by loans from the Musées de la Ville de Paris and private collections.
Curated by Claire FitzGerald, Chief Curator, Musée Ariana
Musée Ariana
Avenue de la Paix 10
1202 Genève
Open 10h-17h
Closed Mondays.
https://www.musee-ariana.ch/expositions/tender-buttons
Guided tours on:
Sunday, 19 October 2025
Sunday, 9 November 2025
Sunday, 7 December 2025
Sunday, 18 January 2026
Sunday, 8 February 2026
Sunday, 22 March 2026
Sunday, 3 May 2026
Sunday, 7 June 2026
Sunday, 4 October 2026
