François Pinault To Stage First Permanent Collection Display In Venice

(MENAFN- USA Art News) At 90 years old, collector François Pinault, founder of the Kering luxury conglomerate and the Artémis investment holding company, has announced plans for the first permanent exhibition of his extensive art collection. Opening in March 2027 at the Palazzo Grassi, one of his two Venice museums, the display will feature 106 major artworks by 54 artists.

Pinault revealed the initiative in a rare interview with Le Monde. Historically, the Palazzo Grassi, established in 2006, along with his other venues, the Bourse de Commerce in Paris and the Punta della Dogana in Venice, have exclusively hosted temporary exhibitions.

Pinault noted that the concept of a permanent display had been developing for some time, driven by concerns that his temporary shows offered an incomplete view of his collection, which encompasses over 10,000 artworks.“Until now, the public has only been able to discover this story in fragments, as exhibitions came and went,” he explained.“A permanent display makes it possible to set works from different periods and generations side by side and to show how, beyond their singularity, certain questions endure.” He intends to feature works that“have asserted themselves through their strength and their ability to withstand the passage of time.”

However, Pinault cautioned against interpreting this as a signal that he is concluding his collecting activities or offering a definitive statement. He stated,“It is in no way a matter of freezing the collection or offering a definitive reading of it. Our view of art continues to evolve,” referring to his curatorial team and himself.

His collecting approach, which has earned him a reputation for embracing challenging ultra-contemporary works, is deeply personal.“My collection is eminently subjective and very often built on instinct, passion, or even anger in the face of the violence of the present,” he said, adding that he is“sensitive to the way works of art can reveal the profound instability” of our times. He also seeks artworks that“turn away from [the present] in an attempt to embody the invisible, that which precisely transcends reality.” Pinault often reflects on his humble origins as the son of a poor rural farmer.

Pinault is recognized in France as a leading collector who champions artists from marginalized and non-Western backgrounds, many of whom have been overlooked by major museums. He emphasized that his selections are not influenced by“the passport or gender.” He explained,“My interest has rather been motivated by encounters with extraordinary, almost shamanic figures, like David Hammons.” He views showcasing this African-American art scene as an invitation“to step off the well-trodden paths of Western art and take the road less traveled.”

Source: ARTnews

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