A Little Art, a Lot of Inspiration: Visiting the Nicola Erni Collection in Switzerland
Two extraordinary buildings, world-class art and the feeling of stepping into someone’s wonderfully imaginative world.
Some places make you want to take a thousand photographs. Others make you put your camera away, slow down and simply take it all in.
The Nicola Erni Collection in Steinhausen, just outside Zug, was very much the latter.
During my recent trip to Switzerland, I visited both buildings of this remarkable private art collection with my sister-in-law and friend Charlotte. She knows me well enough to know that I would absolutely love this place — and she was right. She knew exactly what kind of world would make my heart skip a beat.
We were also scouting the location for our upcoming EXPERIENCE – Swedish Contemporary Art exhibition in April 2027, so the trip was a beautiful mix of planning, discovery and inspiration.
But let me tell you about the art first.
Art that makes you feel something
Nicola Erni has spent more than 25 years building a remarkable collection focused on photography, fashion photography and contemporary art. And what a collection it is.
We encountered works by some of the most influential names in art and photography, including Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Julian Schnabel, alongside legendary photographers such as Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton and Peter Lindbergh — yes, the Swedish-born photographer! The collection spans everything from iconic fashion imagery to contemporary painting, sculpture and monumental installations.
And yet, what stayed with me most wasn't simply the names on the walls. It was the way everything was presented.
Imagine a museum that feels like a home
The two buildings are designed around an idea that I absolutely love: an extended living room. Rather than feeling like a traditional museum where you move from one white gallery space to the next, art, furniture, design objects and carefully chosen details come together to create individual environments.
As you move through the buildings, little worlds seem to appear around every corner. Intimate spaces. Unexpected combinations. Rooms that make you want to stop, sit down and stay a while.
It felt as though these little living rooms were popping up everywhere, each with its own character and atmosphere.
Some spaces made me want to explore every detail. Others made me pause and just absorb the feeling of being there.
It was playful, personal, bold and incredibly inspiring. Art didn't feel distant or untouchable. It felt like something you could live with, connect with and experience in your own way.
Honestly, it was like a balm for the soul.
And how lovely to experience it with someone who knows you so well that she can anticipate exactly what will inspire you. Thank you, Charlotte, for taking me there. ❤️
When art, photography and design meet
As someone who works with photography, composition, storytelling and the way images can create an emotional response, I found the experience particularly inspiring.
I'm fascinated by how an artwork can change when you place it in a different context, how two seemingly unrelated things can start a conversation, and how an entire room can tell a story without spelling everything out for you.
That interplay between art, interiors and objects was everywhere.
It reminded me that inspiration doesn't always come from looking at a single masterpiece. Sometimes it comes from the relationship between everything around it — the colours, the scale, the furniture, the contrasts and even the space between the works.
You don't necessarily leave with a new idea. Sometimes you leave with your mind full of possibilities.
Two buildings. Two different experiences.
We visited both collection buildings at Erlenweg 2 and Erlenweg 5. Each offered its own atmosphere and discoveries, and together they showed how broad and unexpected a private collection can be.
One of the highlights at Erlenweg 2 was the dialogue between monumental works by Warhol, Basquiat and Schnabel — three artists whose very different visual languages helped shape the art scene of 1980s New York.
And that is what I loved about the collection: the freedom to bring different artistic expressions into conversation, rather than keeping everything neatly within its own category.
Photography, contemporary art, fashion, sculpture and interiors can all influence the way we see one another.
Art doesn't have to fit into a box. And neither should inspiration.
A little note about the photographs
Photography isn't permitted inside the collection, so I respected that during our visit. The photographs accompanying this post are from the outside of the buildings and my own collection book — little reminders of an experience that deserves to be discovered in person.
And if you are ever in the Zug area and love art, photography, design or interiors, I would wholeheartedly recommend looking into a visit. Access is organised through advance registration, so check the official website for available visits and booking details.
Coming home with a full heart
I travelled to Switzerland with a practical purpose: to explore, make connections and prepare for what we hope will become a very special exhibition next April.
But I came away with so much more.
New ideas. New perspectives. Conversations about art. And that wonderful feeling of having seen something that wakes up your creativity all over again.
I think that is one of the most beautiful things about travelling for art. You go somewhere to see what other people have created, and somewhere along the way, you reconnect with your own reasons for creating.
For me, this visit was a reminder to stay curious, keep exploring and never underestimate the power of a space that makes you feel something.
A little art, a lot of inspiration — and a very happy artist heading home.
More from Switzerland soon. Next up: meeting Swedish artist Johannes Gustafsson, who has made his home in Zug and exhibits internationally, followed by a day in Zürich filled with design, watches and discoveries.