Mai 36 Galerie was founded in 1987 by Victor Gisler. The opening exhibition was held with Les Levine in 1988 at Maihofstrasse 36 in Lucerne. Since 1996, the gallery is located in a three-story townhouse in the center of Zurich, near the Kunsthaus.

Mai 36 Galerie presents and promotes the work of emerging and established international contemporary artists. 

For more than 25 years, Mai 36 Galerie has been working with John Baldessari, Stephan Balkenhol, Troy Brauntuch, Pia Fries, Matt Mullican, Christoph Rütimann, Thomas Ruff, Lawrence Weiner and Rémy Zaugg. In addition, the estates of Luigi Ghirri, Peter Hujar, General Idea, Christian Lindow, Robert Mapplethorpe, Paul Thek and Daan Van Golden are represented by the gallery. 

The gallery continuously features the work of the artists in gallery exhibitions and publications as well as at international art fairs such as Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach, Art Basel Hong Kong, Frieze London, Fiac Paris, Arco Madrid and Zona Maco Mexico City. Since its beginning, Mai 36 Galerie has been working with museums and public institutions around the world and has gained a reputation for longstanding and continuous collaborations with its artists.