Bernhard Bischoff began his career as a freelance curator, publicist and cultural manager. In order to intensify his work on behalf of artists, the idea of opening his own gallery germinated in 2001. He found suitable premises for his plans in the former Hotel Beau Rivage in Thun, built in 1904. Thus, in a picturesque location, a gallery was created that was committed to contemporary art. Artists with international appeal exhibited their work in six exhibitions per year. After three and a half successful years in Thun, the gallery moved to Bern in May 2005. Marlies Kornfeld joined as a partner to help shape the gallery's future. The gallery found retail premises on Speichergasse, in the immediate vicinity of the Kunstmuseum Bern, which made it possible to give the ambitious programme more “space”.

In 2010, Bernhard Bischoff took over the gallery and moved to new premises at Bern's Waisenhausplatz in the PROGR_Centre for Cultural Production. With a view of the Meret Oppenheim fountain and located in the same building as the Stadtgalerie and many other cultural institutions, as well as numerous artists in their studios, a centre for contemporary art unique to Bern was created.

In 2012, Bernhard Bischoff was offered the position of managing partner and auctioneer at Kornfeld auction house. Katia Masson-Gallucci took over the management of the Bernhard Bischoff & Partner gallery. For over 10 years, until 2025, the gallery's programme impressed with a balanced mix of different types of contemporary art. Painting, drawing and sculpture were represented, as installations, video art, photography and new media. As with all investments, advice was also a priority in the ‘art business’. Collectors want and should learn more about artists and their work. The gallery was able to offer this ‘know-how’. In addition to pure gallery exhibitions, the Bernhard Bischoff & Partner gallery organised events in public spaces, performances and symposia.

In 2025, the location at Waisenhausplatz was closed and the gallery moved to Laupenstrasse 41, into the Kornfeld Gallery. This was primarily due to the fact that, following extensive renovation and new construction at Kornfeld, contemporary and expanded exhibition spaces were available that could be used in the future to showcase part of the previous gallery programme of Galerie Bernhard Bischoff & Partner.

We look forward to continuing to count you among our valued visitors – just not at PROGR on Waisenhausplatz anymore, but at Kornfeld on Laupenstrasse 41 in Bern.

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