Pierre-Antoine Héritier
SCR / SKR Conservator-Restorer in Geneva
For several decades, Pierre-Antoine Héritier has worked in the field of art conservation-restoration. He began his career with historical and traditional art before developing a specialisation in modern and contemporary art.
His work is grounded in an approach that brings together practical experience, close observation of artworks, scientific research and continuing education.
KEY MILESTONES IN HIS CAREER
A CAREER DEDICATED TO CONSERVATION-RESTORATION
Pierre-Antoine Héritier began his training in 1975 in various private studios.
From 1980 to 1988, he worked at the Bellwald studio in Bern, later becoming its technical director. He opened his own studio in Vevey in 1988, then expanded his practice to Geneva, opening a studio in 2001 and a second space at the Port Franc de Genève in late 2015.
From 1989 onwards, he continued his professional development, notably in the sciences and techniques of conservation-restoration with Professor Gilbert Delcroix.
FROM HISTORICAL TO MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART
Trained in the restoration of traditional and historical art, Pierre-Antoine Héritier gradually devoted a significant part of his practice to the conservation of modern and contemporary art.
This evolution has led him to work with private collections and galleries, as well as museums, foundations and cultural institutions in Switzerland and abroad.
A LONGSTANDING COLLABORATION WITH MAMCO
Since 1994, Pierre-Antoine Héritier has been a conservator-restorer attached to the MAMCO – Musée d’art moderne et contemporain de Genève.
This longstanding collaboration is central to his work in modern and contemporary art and has evolved through his close engagement with artworks, their materials and their conservation challenges.
SHARING EXPERIENCE AND TECHNIQUES
From 1996 to 2016, Pierre-Antoine Héritier taught specialist techniques at the Beaux-Arts de Genève, later known as HEAD – Haute école d’art et de design de Genève.
He also shares his expertise through training for professionals and museum institutions in the handling, packing and preventive conservation of artworks.
AN APPROACH ROOTED IN SCIENCE AND RESEARCH
Continuing education and advances in conservation-restoration techniques have played an important role in his career.
Over the years, he has attended numerous training courses, including those led by Gilbert Delcroix, Richard Wolbers, Paolo Cremonesi, François Perego and René de la Rie.
He has also served as an expert, speaker and consultant for the EPFL exhibition « Noir, c’est noir ? Une exposition à la croisée de l’art et de la science ».
PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCES
In 2017, he co-authored a book with Paolo Cremonesi, published in five languages and dedicated to new cleaning techniques for sensitive surfaces.
In 2018,
he took part in the CMOP Final Conference at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, presenting a study on cleaning modern oil paintings, and in the international symposium
Around Picasso.
His scientific work includes a 2022 publication on the impact of particles and nanoparticles on polymer coatings and paint layers.
EXPERTISE AND INNOVATION
Pierre-Antoine Héritier collaborates with
ARTMYN
and
MATIS as an art conservation expert, consultant and member of the Scientific Advisory Board.
His expertise is particularly sought in the investigation and documentation of the structural condition of artistic surfaces, including the development of condition reports and tools for documenting artworks.
This collaboration reflects the importance he has given throughout his career to new technologies applied to the study and conservation of artworks.
WORKING WITH A WIDE RANGE OF INSTITUTIONS
Throughout his career, Pierre-Antoine Héritier and his studio have worked with numerous museums, art collections, foundations and institutions in Switzerland and abroad.
In Geneva
MAMCO – Musée d’art moderne et contemporainMusée d’Art et d’Histoire de GenèveCabinet des EstampesCentre d’Art ContemporainMusée d’ethnographie de GenèveMusée de CarougeFonds municipal de décoration de la Ville de GenèveFonds cantonal de décoration et d’art visuel du canton de Genève
In Switzerland and internationally
Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts, Lausanne
Musée de l’Hermitage de LausanneMusée cantonal d’Archéologie et d’Histoire de LausanneFondation Gandur pour l’ArtFondation PinaultFondation Jan MichalskiFondation Antonio SauraInstitut d’Art Contemporain / FRAC Rhône-AlpesLe Magasin à GrenobleMaisons de vente Christie’s et Sotheby’s
OVER FOUR DECADES OF EXPERIENCE
His career reflects an enduring commitment to the conservation-restoration of artworks, guided by the same high standards: understanding materials, preserving their integrity and helping pass them on to future generations.
