Viennese to Lead Renowned Swiss Photography Museum

In a significant career move, Vienna-born Sophie Haslinger is set to break new ground by becoming the first non-Swiss national to lead the prestigious Fotomuseum Winterthur, one of Europe's foremost institutions dedicated to photography. Starting in August, Haslinger will relocate to the canton of Zurich to take the helm of the museum, marking a major milestone in her already impressive career.

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With family, she is now moving. From Vienna to Switzerland, Canton Zurich.

Haslinger, who studied art history and communication science in Vienna, brings a wealth of experience to her new role. She has been deeply involved in the Viennese art scene, having worked at the private gallery Ostlicht and, for many years, at the Kunst Haus Wien. In her most recent position as the sole curator of the exhibition department at Kunst Haus Wien, she navigated the challenges of a significant 25% budget cut while still delivering impactful exhibitions. Her tenure there included curating the exhibition "Seeds" as part of the Klima Biennale.

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From August, Haslinger will finally lead the Fotomuseum Winterthur, one of the most renowned museums of photography in Europe.

Her appointment is particularly noteworthy as she steps into a leadership position at a museum with a substantial collection of around 4,000 photographs, encompassing both classical and contemporary works. The Fotomuseum Winterthur, established in 1993, is recognized as a vital center for photographic art. Haslinger's vision includes continuing her focus on ecological themes within photography, a subject she has championed and will now bring to an international stage in Switzerland.

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It is a great career leap for the Viennese, born in 1986, who, incidentally, narrowly escaped the Tsunami in Thailand at the age of 18, as she told 'Die Presse' in an interview in 2014.

This move represents not only a personal achievement for Haslinger but also a potential new chapter for the Fotomuseum Winterthur. Her international perspective and established curatorial expertise, particularly her commitment to exploring pressing contemporary issues through the lens of photography, promise to bring fresh energy and direction to the esteemed institution.

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After initially working in the private photo gallery Ostlicht, Haslinger had been associated with the Kunst Haus Wien for many years.