He grew up near the home and studio of his cousin Giovanni Giacometti, and devoted himself to painting from a young age.

[3] In 1917 Giacometti came to know the Dadaists Tristan Tzara, Marcel Janco, Sophie Taeuber-Arp, and Hugo Ball.

[2] He took part in the 8th Dada-Soirée in the Zurich merchants' hall and became a member of the group of artists "Das Neue Leben" (1918–1920).

[4] With the realization of his design for the entrance hall (now known as Giacometti-Halle) of the police station at Waisenhaus Zürich between 1923 and 1925, Giacometti accomplished one of his most important works.

His epitaph reads Qui riposa il maestro dei colori, "here lies the master of colour."