ARTY SHOW – About

When the street becomes a gallery, art becomes part of everyday life !

Arty Show, a playful nod to the French word artichaut (artichoke), is the fusion of two English terms: Arty, evoking avant-garde creativity, and Show, referring to public exhibitions designed to attract attention. At the crossroads of art and commerce, Arty Show transforms the city into a living, open-air gallery for everyone. For one month, local shopkeepers offer their storefronts to emerging and established artists. This unique dialogue between creation, urban space, and daily life invites us to rediscover the city from a fresh perspective.

An Initiative Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds

Founded in 2016 by Émeline Fichot in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Arty Show is inspired by the visionary spirit of Andy Warhol—an iconic figure of contemporary art and a keen observer of his era’s cultural shifts.

In this same spirit, Arty Show reimagines the urban landscape by turning store windows into exhibition spaces. Window shopping—a familiar, often solitary gesture—takes on a collective dimension: it becomes a wandering path, a pretext for encounters, and a thread connecting social life. Passersby cross paths, pause, and engage. Art enters the street, at eye level, and restores the city center’s role as a place of connection, surprise, and contemplation.

Art at the Heart of Everyday Life

Since its creation, Arty Show has spread to Neuchâtel, Sion, Aarau, Lausanne, and in 2025, to Zurich and Davos. The aim is to establish an annual artistic event in city centers, fostering synergy between art and commerce. Each itinerary brings together around twenty artist–shopkeeper duos, offering visitors a varied and immersive artistic experience in the public space. Each city expresses its unique identity through the choice of artists and pairings. Artists are selected via a call for projects, with a jury ensuring diversity in styles and artistic approaches.

A New Reason to Take a Stroll

Each Saturday, guided tours led by members of the association—often in collaboration with the artists—offer the perfect opportunity to turn a simple walk into a cultural experience. These free tours help visitors understand the techniques used, the artists’ intentions, and the connection between the artwork and its setting.

For those seeking a more personalized experience, private tours can be arranged on request and tailored to the needs of groups such as schools or companies.

And for independent explorers, route maps and explanatory labels are placed in front of each window, allowing everyone to explore the artworks at their own pace while engaging with the creative process and context.

A Passionate Team at the Service of Art and the City

The project is led by an association of art lovers from diverse backgrounds. By pooling their skills, networks, and local energy, the team builds lasting bridges between culture and the local economy, contributing to the revitalization of urban centers.

Arty Show goes far beyond a simple art exhibition: it is a social and cultural laboratory. It encourages interdisciplinary exchange, actively supports the Swiss art scene, and strengthens regional cohesion by highlighting the unique character of each participating city.

Welcome to the World of ARTY SHOW

Let yourself be surprised by these shop windows turned into windows on the collective imagination, offering a panorama of artistic expression—from painting to video, installation to textile art. They spark curiosity, inspire dialogue, and help transform our urban environments in meaningful ways.

Andy Warhol said :
« All department stores will become museums, and all museums will become department stores »