Voyage to the South of France
The seaside village of Saint-Tropez has changed a lot in the years that I have made the annual pilgrimage. Over the decades, it has become a real who’s who of collectors, politicians, and interesting connections.
I thought that this summer would be the perfect time to invite the Board to this Mediterranean escape to see the unparalleled artistic offerings, to meet the fabulous people who call it home (if only for the season), and to further cement our Board’s commitment to exploring and supporting the French contemporary art scene.
To kick off our voyage, my husband Anthony and I held our annual 14th of July party aboard Genius in the Port of Saint-Tropez. There is nothing quite like the fireworks overhead as the French celebrate their national holiday at the height of summer.
The day following the revelry, we began with a visit of the Citadelle & Musée d’Histoire Maritime with curator and friend Laurent Pavlidis. We explored Saint-Tropez’s sea-faring history, learned of the strategic importance of its port, and caught breaktaking views of the bay.
That evening, we visited Antoni Clavé’s studio, which the family has kept intact since the artist’s passing. The Catalan painter, sculptor, and printmaker is known for his unique blend of surrealism and abstract expressionism, characterized by rich textures, vibrant colors, and mixed media techniques. His work often incorporated elements of collage and assemblage, reflecting themes of memory, war, and the human condition. Of course, there is something incredibly intimate about visiting an artist’s studio, even nearly two decades after his death.
From the studio, we continued on foot to Clavé’s former printmaking workshop now owned by Francis Briest.
We proceeded on to visit collector and painter Yves Clément who received us at his fabulous beachside house designed by Pierre Soulages for the Parisian art dealer Pierre Berès, where he organized a marvellous seaside dinner for us. The vibe, as our children might put it, was immaculate.
