Leonardo DiCaprio on the list of the most influential collectors in the world

NEW YORK. American magazine ARTnews for the 25th time published Top 200 most influential art collectors. This year 23 new names appeared on the list.

When compiling a rating, the publication team consults with collectors, art dealers, auctioneers, museum directors, gallery owners and consultants from more than 20 countries. This year, 23 new names were included in the prestigious list, including Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio (Leonardo DiCaprio, 1974).

A new issue of ARTnews appeared on the art market at a historic moment - the cost of paintings reached unprecedented levels. "Version O" (Version O) of the famous "Algerian" (Les Femmes d’Alger, 02/14/1955) Pablo Picasso (Pablo Picasso, 1881-1973), sold May 11, 2015 at Christie’s auction in New York for 179, 4 million dollars and became the most expensive piece of art ever sold at this auction. Recall that in May this year, the total sales of the auction house and its main competitor Sotheby’s reached a "stunning" 2.5 billion US dollars.

In an article in the New York Post, it is mentioned that the new owner of Picasso’s painting is the former Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Al Thani, however, the employees of the auction house, according to tradition, did not confirm this information. Auctioneer Jussi Pilkanen noted that representatives of more than 40 countries took part in this historic auction, and people who had not previously been engaged in collecting art were involved in the ten most desirable lots.

In the modern art market there are many new players from around the world, but most of them prefer to remain anonymous. However, there are those who are on the list for many years in a row. Among them are Edith L. and Eli Broad (Edythe L. and Eli Broad), Faiz Sarofim (Fayez Sarofim) and Agnes Gund (Agnes Gund), Charles Saatchi (Charles Saatchi), Dakis Ioannu (Dakis Joannou) and Martin Margulis (Martin Margulies) More than 20 times the names of Leonard Lauder, François Pinault, Christie’s owner, banker Eric de Rothschild, Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim Helu, etc. are included in the prestigious list, etc..

The list of owners of private museums and exhibition halls has a total of 46 names, including the founder of the Moscow Garage Center for Contemporary Art Dasha Zhukova, who, along with her partner, billionaire Roman Abramovich, has always been present in the Top 200 since 2008.

Most of all on the ARTnews list are names of contemporary art collectors. In 1990, they accounted for 61% of the total, in 2015 - almost 90% of them). Most of the collections consist of objects of art of the XIX century, as well as decorative and applied art. It is worth noting that, according to statistics, the number of collectors of the "old masters" decreased from 15% in 1990 to 10% this year.

Among the new names of the most influential collectors are Chinese filmmakers Wang Zhongjun (Wang Zhongjun, contemporary art), Sheikh Hamad Al-Thani (post-war and contemporary art), American investors Daniel and Brett Sundheim (contemporary art), young investors from Bangladesh Nadia and Rajeeb Samdani (Nadia and Rajeeb Samdani, antique silver art, contemporary art from South Asia), Lebanese businessmen Elam and Tony Salamé (Elham and Tony Salamé, contemporary art of the last decade), owners of the production company the software includes Germans Sabine and Hasson Plattner (Sabine and Hasso Plattner, painting and impressionism), Brazilian real estate investors Jenny and Selmo Nissenbaum (minimalism), American neurosurgeon Dr. Frank Moore and his wife Nina Moore (Nina and Frank Moore), art of the last 20 years) and others.

Undoubtedly one of the most interesting names on the list of the most influential collectors is Leonardo DiCaprio. The first picture of the actor, named after the Renaissance genius Leonardo da Vinci, is the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat (Jean-Michel Basquiat; 1960-1988), and over the years he gradually added to the collection the work of Egon Schiele (1890-1918), Picasso, Andreas Gursky (Andreas Gursky), Takashi Murakami, Rush red (Ed Ruscha), Elizabeth Peyton (Peyton), Sarah Lucas (Sarah Lucas), etc.

On May 14, 2013, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation organized Christie’s charity auction in New York, which raised $ 38.8 million overnight to support various environmental initiatives (Leonardo’s second great passion DiCaprio).

Thomas Seydoux, a private art dealer and former Christie’s specialist, noted the dynamically changing trends of the modern art market: “In less than five years, the price level at auctions has been seriously updated. Today, real trading starts at $ 100 million. People think that this is speculation and investment, but it’s not so, ”the trader categorically states.

Todd Levin, director of Levin Art Group, speaking about the market situation, said that no one knows how long this situation will last. True collectors remain in the “game” both during growth and during the recession in the market.

Anna Sidorova © Gallerix.ru