Feature: Fashion Meets Art with Bernard Arnault

As owner of Christie’s auction house and one of the largest art collections in the world, Pinault earned himself the title of Art Review’s most powerful person in the art world. He is known as a methodical collector guided by what Peter Brant calls “superb taste” and has been advised by expert French dealer Marc Blondeau and art godfather Larry Gagosian. In addition to Palazzo Grassi, Pinault opened Punta dellaDogana, a customs house won in 2009 with a $30 million bid over the Guggenheim.

The Pinault collection originated with post-World War II pieces by artists like Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning, Donald Judd, Bruce Nauman and Richard Serra. Pinault has since shifted his focus to collecting contemporary art with curator Alison Gingeras, previously of the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Pinault’s collection includes pieces by PiotrUklański, Urs Fischer, Maurizio Cattelan, Jeff Koons and Paul McCarthy. Again, critics note the lack of French artists. But Pinault defends his taste, which is American, European and like Arnault, increasingly global.

Even more inspired by global influence is Miuccia Prada, who transformed her family legacy from an Italian leather goods brand into a global luxury label. Prada’s art initiatives are innovative, supporting unconventional artists like Tom Sachs – who first got her attention by crafting a toilet in Prada packaging – as well as Walter De Maria, Tom Friedman, Barry McGee and Laurie Anderson. Her contemporary art space, Fondazione Prada, exhibits work by various international artists.