Paul Gugelmann (born May 19, 1929 in Schönenwerd) is a Swiss artist, who gained notoriety especially through his "poetic machines". A large part of these machines are owned by a foundation and can be seen in the Paul Gugelmann Museum in Schönenwerd. In addition, Gugelmann has created some mobile sculptures, mostly commissioned works, which can be seen in public spaces in various places in Switzerland.
Paul Gugelmann was born as the fifth of seven children. He grew up in a simple working-class family, who lived in an apartment in the cloister of the collegiate church Schönenwerd. Like many Schönenwerder, he found his professional home in the Bally shoe factories, where he worked first in the advertising department as a graphic designer, later as a shoe designer. In 1951 he moved to Paris, where he set up and directed a creative studio for his company. He married Erika Huber; a son and a daughter sprang from marriage. In his free time, he devoted himself to drawing and modeling.
His first machine, the Piano from 1963, was made when Gugelmann disassembled a toy steam engine and reassembled it with bronze parts he bought at a Paris flea market. It was followed by other sculptures based on steam engines, but today are operated with compressed air. Later he worked with electric motors, winches and spring drives as a drive for his machines. While the early machines from the 1960s have musical themes and corresponding titles, Gugelmann took up social, ethical and political themes in his works from the 1970s.
In 1969 Gugelmann returned to Switzerland. At exhibitions at home and abroad, he was known as an artist, but worked until his retirement in 1992 for the Bally shoe factories. His machines are not for sale and are since 1994 partly in the possession of the foundation, which runs the Paul Gugelmann Museum in Schönenwerd, partly in his private possession. Gugelmann lives today in Gretzenbach.