Latest news with #artcollection
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
A Dubai-based art collector channels Audrey Hepburn in her dream home vision
Head of Sotheby's UAE, Katia Nounou Boueiz, came to Dubai in 2015 and is now leading the first GCC outpost of an auction house with nearly 300 years of history under its belt. She gave wknd. an exclusive preview of some of the highlights of her growing art collection at her Jumeirah home, and told us how everyone can become a collector. Katia calls the couple's villa as 'a quintessential LA-style house, right in the middle of Jumeirah'. It has a modern feel, high ceilings and expansive glass windows, as well as big white walls which are perfect for showcasing art. 'We have lots of colourful paintings and ceramic sculptures everywhere throughout. In terms of the furniture, we've made a conscious effort to keep it as minimalist as possible, to let the art take centre stage,' she explained. Katia hosts art collectors from around the world while she cooks up her signature Persian cuisine from her family recipes for as many as 130 guests. Just 38, Katia was born and raised in London but is originally of Iraqi and Iranian heritage. She moved to Dubai together with her husband after they got married in 2015. 'Being surrounded by beautiful paintings for the last 17 years since I started working at Sotheby's will make you into somewhat of a collector,' she told wknd. 'Though my favourite period has to be that of the Impressionists - a little over my budget - my husband and I have slowly started to build a collection over the last 12 years that brings together established and less established contemporary artists from all over the world. 'The first piece that we bought was for our London home, a 1970s piece titled Atom by Turkish artist Hamit Gorele, which we won in a Sotheby's auction. I still absolutely love it.' One of the most exciting purchases the couple have made is a beautiful piece by Latifa Echakhch, which they bought from the Kamel Mennour Gallery. 'She is a very talented Moroccan-French artist who participated in the Venice Biennale in 2011 and won the Duchamp Prize in 2013. This is one of the few paintings both my husband and I fell in love with instantly, we were both 100% sold the moment we saw it.' Sotheby's, founded in London in 1744, and the world's oldest and largest internationally recognised firm of fine art auctioneers, opened its first Dubai-based gallery in 2017. 'While others were focusing on categories such as watches and Middle Eastern art, though we also catered for the best of the best in those fields, my priority was to establish ourselves as the pioneers in bringing masterpieces of international art from different periods, in line with the Louvre Abu Dhabi's boundless approach,' Katia told wknd. 'We showcased Old Masters with Rembrandt, Rubens, Botticelli, Impressionist and Modern Art with Picasso, Kandinsky and Giacometti, and Contemporary including a monumental Mappa by Boetti and a one-of-a-kind collection of Warhol prints.' Since then, the auction house has also presented some incredibly important and rare jewels in the UAE, such as Marie-Antoinette's jewels, including her pearl, as well as major gemstones, such as the 303 carat Golden Canary yellow diamond and the magnificent 55 carat Estrela de Fura ruby. And the company's work in the UAE only keeps growing. In April, Sotheby's held its first public exhibition in Abu Dhabi in 15 years, unveiling $100 million (Dh367 million) of rare diamonds at the Bassam Freiha Art Foundation on Saadiyat Island, with two days of sold-out guided tours. Work and home have now become interwoven for Katia, for whom collecting has become a way of life. But it is not only for professionals, she says. 'The first thing I always advise is to establish your own personal style or aesthetic, and consider the overall theme of your home, whether it's more modern, classic or traditional, or eclectic or minimalist. 'You should seek out art that will compliment and enhance your interior. The next most important thing is that the art speaks to you, whether its paintings, photography, sculptures, you should choose pieces that resonate with you and evoke emotions. All of this will enhance your everyday living.' Textures are key to a collection's visual appeal, so varying the art created in different mediums is vital, she said. 'I also highly encourage trying to buy from artists globally - there are so many things out there once you start looking,' she said. Her favourite space in the Jumeirah villa is the main entrance, a true focal point that any guest will have to see. An open space with natural light pouring in, it's a testament to the very personalities at the heart of the home. 'Here you have artworks hung, centred around my favourite piece of furniture, a wooden dining table that is a pretty big statement piece,' she said. 'My second favourite spot would have to be my rooftop, with its gorgeous view of Dubai's iconic skyline, which is where I tend to host all of my big parties,' she added. But contrary to her life of city living from London to Dubai, Katia says that her dream home would be a charming Provençal or country-style house, like the one once owned by Audrey Hepburn in a small village in Switzerland, with a big vegetable and fruit garden. 'This would be a nice contrast to the busy city and beach lifestyle I have between London and Dubai, something I would welcome in the future, when I'm manifesting my retirement plans,' she smiled. 'For inspiration, I look to the likes of Martha Stewart and Amal Clooney, as I love the aesthetic of their interior style. Going through Sotheby's catalogues is also an age-old inspiration, that is all the more easier now its all online. You could spend hours browsing through and seeing how collectors over time have decorated their spaces.' But for now, Dubai remains a huge inspiration, a hub bringing the world to the Middle East in an ever-growing arts and culture scene. 'Dubai is such a dynamic, vibrant and culturally diverse city, which draws influences from all around the world,' she said. 'The city inspires me to appreciate a wide array of styles and aesthetics, encouraging me to blend these various elements into my collection and the work that I do. I find beauty in the fusion of contemporary designs and art mixed with earthy elements, which creates a nice balance. 'By nature of my line of work at Sotheby's, I get to meet so many interesting people from all over the world, and through these experiences and encounters, my taste is ever evolving.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
13-06-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Germany and Last Kaiser's Heirs Agree to Keep Treasures on Display
The heirs of the former Prussian monarchy and Germany's state-run cultural foundations on Friday announced a deal that will allow thousands of the family's treasures and artefacts to remain on public display. The agreement ends a century-old dispute between the state and the Hohenzollern family, descendants of the last German emperor and king of Prussia, Kaiser Wilhelm II, who abdicated after World War I. "After 100 years, we have amicably resolved a dispute dating back to the transition from the monarchy to the republic," said Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer, hailing the "historic success". The collection reportedly covers 27,000 objects including paintings, sculptures, coins, books and furniture. "Countless works of art that are of great importance to the history of Brandenburg, Prussia, and thus Germany will now be permanently accessible to the public and continue to form the centerpieces of our museums and palaces," said Weimer. Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia said in a statement that "it has always been my goal to permanently preserve our shared cultural heritage for art-loving citizens and to make it publicly accessible". "The solution now found provides an excellent basis for a new partnership between the state cultural foundations and my family." Under the agreement, previously disputed objects will be transferred to a non-profit Hohenzollern Art Heritage Foundation, with two thirds of the board made up of public sector representatives, and one third by the aristocratic family. The ancient House of Hohenzollern ruled the German Empire from its establishment in 1871 until Wilhelm II was forced to abdicate in 1918, going into exile after Germany's defeat in World War I. The Prussian royals were initially to be stripped of their properties, but a deal was later worked out under a 1926 law. The imperial family received millions of Deutschmarks and kept dozens of castles, villas and other properties, mainly in and around Berlin but also as far away as today's Namibia. However, after Nazi Germany's World War II defeat, Soviet occupation of eastern Germany and communist rule led to additional expropriations. The riches lost behind the Iron Curtain only came back into reach for the Hohenzollern family with the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall. Under a 1994 law, people whose property was expropriated by the Soviets have a right to claim compensation, but only if they did not "lend considerable support" to the Nazi regime. The family fought for years to recover the treasures but dropped the bid in 2023 when a family representative acknowledged that Kaiser Wilhelm II "sympathized with the Nazis at times". The deal announced on Friday was sealed after the German Historical Museum Foundation gave its approval, following the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Prussian Castles and Gardens Foundation in Berlin-Brandenburg.
News.com.au
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Take a look inside the home of Australia's largest personal Dr Seuss collection
Marilyn Culpitt's home in Hendra is not just a dream house for entertainers – it's also home to one of the largest personal Dr Seuss collections in the country. The five-bedroom, three-bathroom house at 28 Blaikie St was bought in 2009, and has since become home to 29 original artworks of the famous children's artist: from limited edition prints to even some of his taxidermy. 'I was in San Francisco and went into a gallery there, where I noticed a Dr Seuss print,' Ms Culpitt said. 'Having four children, I was very well aware of the Dr Seuss books, but I had no idea he was such a prolific artist.' '[Then] I was down in Sydney one day, and happened to walk into a gallery that was displaying 'Green Eggs and Ham', and that was my first piece that I bought.' Ms Culpitt, a renowned dance teacher in Ascot, was also a fan of artist Gerard Manion's work, and already had an array of his pieces by the time she started her new collection. 'I think my if you compare my Seuss to my Manion collection, I think my children thought I'd lost my marbles,' she said. 'There's a hidden meaning in just about every single one of [Seuss'] paintings, or his prints. But they're a lot more simplistic, very colourful, – they just are what they are. They're there to give you joy.' Fortunately, the house had plenty of room for both collections. With four kids and 12 grandkids, Ms Culpitt's house needed to be big enough to hold everyone for regular gatherings. 'There would be very few weeks that go by that I'm not cooking for somebody,' she said. Place Ascot agent Tanya Mitchell said she'd seen some of the events Ms Culpitt had put on, and members of her community were paying attention when her house went up for sale. 'She ran the Ascot School of Dance for decades – she's a well-known figure in the community,' she said. 'I've had people on social media respond, 'Oh, it's Marilyn's house!'.' Ms Mitchell said Ms Culpitt had kept the home well-maintained after buying it from the builder, and the house would likely go to someone looking for a low-maintenance, executive home. Meanwhile, Ms Culpitt, who is downsizing, said she had to deal with the fact that she can't keep everything in her collection. 'The reality is I am going to have to sadly part with them, simply because I just won't have the wall space,' she said. 'Some of the buyers that have come through already have inquired if they would come with the house,' Ms Mitchell added. Ms Culpitt has said she was open to selling several of her artworks, and interested buyers could also make inquiries about some of them. But there are some pieces she won't part ways with without a fight. 'Green Eggs and Ham', 'Yawning Cat', 'Ted's Cat' and 'Wisdom of the Orient Cat' are four prints she owns that she has a special attachment to, for either sentimental value or their unique and iconic designs. 'There's a whole range of them, and they're all lovely – but I suppose they're the most iconic for whatever reason, for me,' she said. Place Ascot is currently seeking offers over $2.75 million for the home.
Wall Street Journal
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wall Street Journal
On Cape Cod, Billionaire Bill Koch Lists Bunny Mellon's Former Home for $23.85 Million
When Kansas-born Bill Koch was a newcomer to Cape Cod in the 1970s, he was a frequent guest at the summer home of banking heir Paul Mellon and his wife, the famed gardener Rachel 'Bunny' Mellon. After bringing his hosts a couple bottles of wine, Koch would walk through the Osterville, Mass., house with Paul, admiring the couple's enviable art collection. 'He had some of the world's greatest masterpieces,' Koch, 85, recalled in an email. 'I always wanted a Van Gogh, and he knew it, and would always—with just a touch of smugness—steer me into the room where it hung.'
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Catherine goes behind the scenes at museum stores
The Princess of Wales has visited the Victoria and Albert Museum's storehouse in East London, as it opens its vast collection to more museum, which has its main building in South Kensington, has more than 600,000 objects in newly-opened store rooms at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic had a behind-the-scenes tour, where she praised how the public will be able to get a close view of so many historic V&A East Storehouse is a purpose-built museum store, intended to widen access and "unlock" its huge collection of art, design and fashion items, much of which is not usually on display. "What a fantastic idea to have all these pieces to learn from - so they're not just behind the scenes and stored away somewhere. You can see them in person and up close," said Catherine."What an opportunity for everyone to see historic pieces first hand," she said, praising the "eclectic" was shown around the store's cavernous rooms by the museum's director Tristram Hunt and she saw examples of conservation work on textiles in the Hunt showed the princess some examples of textiles by the Victorian designer, William Morris, and she said how much she liked the foliage spoke to the museum director about how some of the historic textiles on show could still look museum stores, free to visitors, has an "order an object" service which allows visitors to book an appointment to see an object close up and get information about it from museum to royal sources, the purpose of the visit was to highlight the importance of creative opportunity and to celebrate the "power of creativity". Sign up here to get the latest royal stories and analysis every week with our Royal Watch newsletter. Those outside the UK can sign up here.
