GEORGES BERGÈS New York’s Maverick Gallerist By christopher a. pape
F
rom the standpoint of a rank amateur, art collecting seems like a gladiatorial sport. From who’s in to who’s out, from the déclassé to the divine, it is hard for a beginner (or even in most cases, a more experienced collector) to know the difference. Many throw away money, in an attempt to achieve some sort of ambiguous art epiphany that most likely will never come to fruition or in a more crude ambition collect for investment purposes. Whatever the case may be, the art world is a scary place —full of snobbery, pretension and condescension and worse still, rip-offs, thieves and imposters.
So what to do? Give up completely? If that were the case, there would be no da Vinci or Michelangelo. No, rather, you must find someone —an art representative or gallerist —you can trust. Someone rooted to the community, understanding of your needs; while still maintaining a connection to the pulse of what’s hot and what’s not. Someone who is not afraid to venture to the “Bushwick” of Mexico City or Shanghai. Someone who is down-to-earth, but with an affinity for the whimsy.
rigorous requirements. His name is Georges Bergès and we at RESIDENT are honored to have interviewed him. I believe the interview that follows is a reflection of his deep understanding of art, his passion for collection and his humanity and humility for both his artists and his clients. I hope you enjoy the piece as much as I enjoyed interviewing him!
There is, for me, only one person who fits those
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