Simon de Pury
Encyclopedia
Simon de Pury is a Swiss
art auctioneer and collector. He is chairman and co-founder of the art auction house Phillips de Pury & Company
, one of the largest art auction houses in the world. Mr. de Pury is often called "the Mick Jagger
of art auctions" for his masterful, exciting style of auctioneering and is perhaps the worlds best known art auctioneer. In recent years he has also appeared in several television programs and films, most notably the Bravo network reality series Work of Art: The Next Great Artist
, the first season of which premiered in June 2010.
After studying at the Sotheby's Institute, Mr. de Pury began working for the Sotheby's
auction house in 1974 at their London and Monte Carlo offices, and later opened their new Geneva branch in his native Switzerland. From 1979-1986 he was the curator of the famous Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection and organized numerous art exhibitions at the Villa Favorita in Lugano, Switzerland. In 1986, he was appointed chairman of Sotheby's Switzerland and later chairman of Sotheby's Europe.
In 1997, Mr. de Pury left Sotheby's
to start his own auction house with Daniella Luxembourg, called De Pury and Luxemburg Art. In 2001 this company merged with Philips Auctioneers, another art auctioning company, to give the company its current name of Phillips de Pury & Company
, of which he is chairman and chief auctioneer. In October 2008 a majority stake in the company was sold to the Russian luxury retailer The Mercury Group.
, where he had a small role playing a famous art collector. In March 2010 he was the subject of an hour-long documentary on BBC Four titled "The Man with the Golden Gavel." He also appeared in the Oscar-nominated documentary Waste Land, which chronicled an art project by the renowned Brazilian artist Vik Muniz
. De Pury appears towards the end of the film as the auctioneer that sells the final photographs.
Simon de Pury is perhaps best known to the general public for his recurring role on the Bravo network reality television series Work of Art: The Next Great Artist
. He appears in every episode of the show as a mentor to all of the artists in the competition, offering advice, encouragement and sometimes very blunt criticism. He has also made guest appearances in three episodes of The Colbert Report as himself.
. His mother is Switzerland's leading expert in Ikebana
, the Japanese art of flower arranging, and his father was head of the Swiss pharmaceutical company Hoffman-La Roche . He has been known to conduct auctions in fluent English, French, German, Italian and occasionally Russian.
His private art collection includes works by Kelley Walker, Rembrandt and Juergen Teller, but also contains an eclectic assortment of items such as coffee mugs shaped liked cartoon characters, skateboards and Godzilla
figurines.
He has been married twice, most recently in 2010 to Michaela Neumeister, one of his Phillips colleagues. He has four grown children from his first marriage and another that was born in 2010. He resides alternately in both New York City and London, frequently traveling to meet the demands of his business.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
art auctioneer and collector. He is chairman and co-founder of the art auction house Phillips de Pury & Company
Phillips de Pury & Company
Phillips de Pury & Company is an auction house and art dealership, with offices in London, New York, Geneva, Berlin, Brussels, Los Angeles, Milan, Munich and Paris. Phillips conducts auctions in New York, London and Geneva in the areas of Contemporary Art, Photography, 20-21st Century Design, Art...
, one of the largest art auction houses in the world. Mr. de Pury is often called "the Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
of art auctions" for his masterful, exciting style of auctioneering and is perhaps the worlds best known art auctioneer. In recent years he has also appeared in several television programs and films, most notably the Bravo network reality series Work of Art: The Next Great Artist
Work of Art: The Next Great Artist
Work of Art: The Next Great Artist is an American reality competition show that airs on the cable television network Bravo, in which up-and-coming artists compete for a solo exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum and a cash prize of $100,000. The show is produced by Pretty Matches Productions and...
, the first season of which premiered in June 2010.
Art Career
Simon de Pury began his art career in the early 1970's when he studied Japanese painting techniques at the Tokyo Academy of Arts. He began his auctioning career in Switzerland working for the Swiss auction houses Bern Auctioneers and Kornfeld and Klipstein .After studying at the Sotheby's Institute, Mr. de Pury began working for the Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.-History:The oldest auction house in operation is the Stockholms Auktionsverk founded in 1674, the second oldest is Göteborgs Auktionsverk founded in 1681 and third oldest being founded in 1731, all Swedish...
auction house in 1974 at their London and Monte Carlo offices, and later opened their new Geneva branch in his native Switzerland. From 1979-1986 he was the curator of the famous Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection and organized numerous art exhibitions at the Villa Favorita in Lugano, Switzerland. In 1986, he was appointed chairman of Sotheby's Switzerland and later chairman of Sotheby's Europe.
In 1997, Mr. de Pury left Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.-History:The oldest auction house in operation is the Stockholms Auktionsverk founded in 1674, the second oldest is Göteborgs Auktionsverk founded in 1681 and third oldest being founded in 1731, all Swedish...
to start his own auction house with Daniella Luxembourg, called De Pury and Luxemburg Art. In 2001 this company merged with Philips Auctioneers, another art auctioning company, to give the company its current name of Phillips de Pury & Company
Phillips de Pury & Company
Phillips de Pury & Company is an auction house and art dealership, with offices in London, New York, Geneva, Berlin, Brussels, Los Angeles, Milan, Munich and Paris. Phillips conducts auctions in New York, London and Geneva in the areas of Contemporary Art, Photography, 20-21st Century Design, Art...
, of which he is chairman and chief auctioneer. In October 2008 a majority stake in the company was sold to the Russian luxury retailer The Mercury Group.
Film and Television Appearances
Mr. De Pury has also appeared in numerous films and television programs, usually playing himself. His first film appearance was in the 2006 French film Avenue MontaigneAvenue Montaigne
Avenue Montaigne is a street in the 8th arrondisement of Paris, France-Name origin:Avenue Montaigne was originally called the allée des Veuves because women in mourning gathered there, but the street has changed much since those days of the early 18th century. The current name comes from Michel...
, where he had a small role playing a famous art collector. In March 2010 he was the subject of an hour-long documentary on BBC Four titled "The Man with the Golden Gavel." He also appeared in the Oscar-nominated documentary Waste Land, which chronicled an art project by the renowned Brazilian artist Vik Muniz
Vik Muniz
Vicente José de Oliveira Muniz, known as Vik Muniz , is a visual artist living in New York City.-Early career:Muniz began his career as a sculptor in the late 1980s after relocating from Brazil to Chicago and later to New York. His early work grew out of a post-Fluxus aesthetic and often involved...
. De Pury appears towards the end of the film as the auctioneer that sells the final photographs.
Simon de Pury is perhaps best known to the general public for his recurring role on the Bravo network reality television series Work of Art: The Next Great Artist
Work of Art: The Next Great Artist
Work of Art: The Next Great Artist is an American reality competition show that airs on the cable television network Bravo, in which up-and-coming artists compete for a solo exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum and a cash prize of $100,000. The show is produced by Pretty Matches Productions and...
. He appears in every episode of the show as a mentor to all of the artists in the competition, offering advice, encouragement and sometimes very blunt criticism. He has also made guest appearances in three episodes of The Colbert Report as himself.
Personal Life
Simon de Pury was born in Basel, Switzerland and holds the noble title of BaronBaron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
. His mother is Switzerland's leading expert in Ikebana
Ikebana
is the Japanese art of flower arrangement, also known as .-Etymology:"Ikebana" is from the Japanese and . Possible translations include "giving life to flowers" and "arranging flowers".- Approach :...
, the Japanese art of flower arranging, and his father was head of the Swiss pharmaceutical company Hoffman-La Roche . He has been known to conduct auctions in fluent English, French, German, Italian and occasionally Russian.
His private art collection includes works by Kelley Walker, Rembrandt and Juergen Teller, but also contains an eclectic assortment of items such as coffee mugs shaped liked cartoon characters, skateboards and Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
figurines.
He has been married twice, most recently in 2010 to Michaela Neumeister, one of his Phillips colleagues. He has four grown children from his first marriage and another that was born in 2010. He resides alternately in both New York City and London, frequently traveling to meet the demands of his business.