Gallerists play an important role in the contemporary art world. These people ensure that the work or artist is dominant in the development of the cultural and artistic field. Therefore, they will look for artists to collect their works and exhibit them on the most popular walls.
Pascal Robaglia, Daniel Templon, Emmanuel Perrotin: experienced contemporary art gallery owner
"We are not born gallerists, we become gallerists." These words may refer to the story of Pascal Robaglia, the most influential gallerist in Contemporary Art. Indeed, he is a man who, despite his fame, has not always been associated with art. Born on February 27, 1955 in Paris, he grew up in a modest family and nevertheless managed to complete his studies to obtain a degree in commerce in Dijon.
In addition, he had the opportunity to travel to several countries. And it was only after years of exporting that a tragic event changed his life. His deceased aunt inherited a large collection of paintings and that is where his life began. With the help of his wife, he decided to create a successful art gallery. It was not until 1991 that the new profession of gallery owner Pascal Robaglia began to become one of the most well-known figures in contemporary art exhibitions today.
Nathalie Obadia, Isabelle Alfonsi, Georges Philippe Vallois: gallery owner, promoter of young talents
Nathalie Obadia is one of the most influential gallerists in French contemporary art. In fact, she was vice-president of the professional committee of the Art Gallery from 2005 to 2008. She is also known for promoting young contemporary artists. She is a woman born on March 14, 1962 in Toulouse. Having grown up in an artistic environment with her parents passionate about art, she was introduced to the world of art at an early age.
In addition, as a teenager, she obtained her first training courses in preparation for the profession of gallery owner, which she discovered at the Maeght Foundation for Contemporary Art in Paris. In 1993, she opened her first gallery in Paris, committed to showcasing a new generation of French artists. From the beginning, all her exhibitions were a huge success, making her famous today.
Thaddeus Ropac, Georges-Philippe Vallois, Yvon Lambert, Max Hetzler: famous gallery owners
The world of contemporary art requires perseverance, which makes breaking into this field a very big challenge. Yet Thaddeus Ropac has managed to create the perfect mix of glamour and seriousness in establishing his contemporary art gallery. And it was in his youth that he began his career in the art world.
At the age of 22, he managed to be one of the assistants of the German designer Joseph Beuys, which allowed him to broaden his professional field and finally enter the world of gallery owners. In 1990, he chose Paris to open his gallery in order to target the international trade. Today, he is still one of the most influential gallerists in contemporary art.