Describe your collection in three words?

Art, design and architecture.

What was your very first collection, maybe as a child or a teenager?

I grew up in a simple environment. Art came into my life later, when I was ab𒊎out 20.

Does art play a role in your romantic relationship?

My wife, Lauren♛ce, 🔯and I founded Galerie Patrick Seguin together in 1989. We share the same passion, which we’ve turned into our profession.

How would you change the art world?

There is too big a distortion in personal collections between art and decorative ꦚarts. What I mean is that there⛦ are so many collections among the houses we visit where the collection of modern or contemporary art is incredible, but the furniture is ordinary, far from matching the quality of the art. Yet the dialogue between the two is so strong.

Who is the most unjustly overlooked artist?

Mike Kelley and Bruce Nauman.

Favorite art fair and why?

Art Basel has long been the best international fair, but I have to admit that Art Basel Parඣis has become very active recently.

What “tools of the trade” do you use to keep building your collection?

One of the advantages of being a gallerist is collecting for yourself. I specialize in historic French mid-century furniture, so I know this field intimately. I have my own trusted networks for sourcing the best pieces. For art, it’s a different story. I have connections with many international galleries and have built close friendships with certain artists. This network was notably strengthened through the “Carte Blanche” exhibitions I organized at the gal💜lery. Starting in 2002, I invited contemporary art galleries to curate shows in my Parisian space during FIAC/Art Basel Paris, giving them complete creative freedom. The first gallery I hosted was Jablonka Galerie, followed by others like Gagosian, Presenhuber, Paula Cooper, Luhring Augustine, Massimo De Carlo, Sadie Coles, Hauser & Wirth and Karma.

Favorite curator and why?

Bob Nickas, with whom we꧒ have organized two fantastic exhibitions. I also loved the late Germano Celant, especially his remarkable reconstruction at the Prada Foundation in Venice of the Harald Szeemann exhibition “Live In Your Head: When Attitudes Become Form” from 1969.꧅ It was extraordinary.

What non-art object do you find most beautiful?

I love everydaꦅy objects from Japan. For example, I have an old rice measuring box that I find magnificent.

Who is your collecting wingman?

Guillaume Houzé (an entrepreneur, art collector an♛d director of image and communication at the Galeries Lafayette Group).

Best art gift, given or received?

Richard Prince, who is a long-time friend and who is one of the best living artists in my opinion, gave me a very special gift. It’s a beggar’s cup, which he very ironically cast in gold. He gave it to me to cheer me up at a time when I underwent a minor surgical procedure. It is an unusual objec൩t with a particular history.

Favorite work of architecture and why?

In the late 1930s, Jean Pr🥀ouvꩲé developed a constructive principle for demountable houses, which he later patented. It’s so clever and simple that it’s still relevant today.

Which piece doesn’t ‘fit’ in your collection but still works?

“The City” by Michael Heizer.

What’s the piece that got away?

A paint👍ing by Christopher Wool. I always wanted to own one, and I will.

Which collectors do you admire?

Mitchell🃏 Rales, for creating the Glenstone museum in Po♐tomac, Maryland.

What place is most inspiring to you?

When I need to recharge my batteries, we go to the South of F꧃rance, where we have a house designed by my lifelong friend Jean Nouvel. It’s an extraordinary place, open, sun-drenched and surrounded by nature.

What tips do you have for collectors just starting out?

Be well-inform♓ed, read, see as many shows as possible and trust your own intuition.

What artwork or object have you restored back to life?

Jean Prouvé’s Maxéville Design Office, built in 1948. For years, it served as a swingers club called Le Bounty in an industrial suburb of Nancy, its architectural significance hidden under layers of club decor. I discovered that much of the building was 🌱intact, p💟rotected by its aluminum cladding. I acquired it, relocated it to a warehouse, and fully restored it to its original beauty.

What’s the best compliment someone has paid to your collection?

Once we had Richard and Ruthie Rogers to lunch at home, and it went on all afternoon. A few days later, I received a very moving letter from Richard.