Galerie Chenel
Galerie Chenel was established in 1999 on the iconic quai Voltaire. Facing the Louvre museum, the place has a very powerful atmosphere with its contemporary setting that truly emphasizes the high-quality antique sculptures that they present. This unusual presentation is very much influenced by both Italian palazzos and English country houses. The gallery participates in different several major art fairs – TEFAF Maastricht, TEFAF New York Fall, Masterpiece London and Frieze Masters -, organizes thematic exhibitions and visionary partnerships with contemporary artists. Galerie Chenel is a member of the SNA (National Union of Antiques Dealers), the IADAA (International Association of Dealers in Ancient Art) and the Carré Rive Gauche.
Galerie Chenel
Galerie Chenel was established in 1999 on the iconic quai Voltaire. Facing the Louvre museum, the place has a very powerful atmosphere with its contemporary setting that truly emphasizes the high-quality antique sculptures that they present. The gallery participates in different several major art fairs, organizes thematic exhibitions and visionary partnerships with contemporary artists. Galerie Chenel is a member of the SNA (National Union of Antiques Dealers), the IADAA (International Association of Dealers in Ancient Art) and the Carré Rive Gauche.
Ancient Art
3 Quai Voltaire
75007 Paris, FR
+33 (0)1 42 97 44 09
contact@galeriechenel.com
Archaistic Hermes Head
Hellenistic or Roman
1st Century BD – 1st Century AD
Marble
H. 33cm, W. 19cm, D. 23cm
Provenance:
Collection of Leon Medina, New York.
Collection Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Sold at Sotheby’s New York, 29-30 April 1988, lot 3244.
Collection of a Palm Beach collector.
All our Interviews
Read all our exclusive interviews with antique, modern, contemporary & primitive art dealers.
Interview with Gladys Chenel ~ Co-Director
Ollivier, Gladys and Adrien Chenel in their gallery © Galerie Chenel
Interview by Pauline Loeb-Obrenan, founder of artfairmag.
In the middle of a second French lock down, I had the chance to speak with Gladys Chenel. Gladys, her husband Ollivier and her brother-in-law Adrien, are the three talented art dealers who founded the gallery, more than 20 years ago.
artfairmag: You are part of the new generation of art dealers. What is your background? How did ancient art come to you?
Gladys Chenel: Firstly, Gallery Chenel is a family business. My father-in-law, Alain, was an antique dealer and an expert in Art deco in Nice. The boys grew up in this environment and they naturally walked in his footsteps. Our story began 21 years ago, having just arrived from England. Ollivier, a graduate in art history, was determined to open his gallery in Paris and brought me along with him. Adrien, still a photography student at that time, joined us shortly after. Our common taste for ancient art quickly led us to specialise in this field.
artfairmag: Your core specialty is antique sculptures, mainly Roman. You present them in a very modern way and often work with contemporary artists. What is the DNA of your gallery?
G. C.: We do things the way we think and with conviction. Our gallery looks like us and reflects ourselves. Our passion for classical antiquities does not affect our curiosity regarding other fields. Open to dialogues and mixing, we do not hesitate to sometimes offer a contemporary artwork or design furniture in juxtaposition with our ancient sculptures. We enjoy presenting our imposing marbles next to Picasso ceramics which are more fragile and colourful.
artfairmag: I’m curious about the profile of your buyers. Is there a typical profile or on the contrary, a great diversity within the ones interested in ancient art (age, backgrounds, private, public, etc.)?
G. C.: We do not have a special profile for buyers. They range from passionate collectors to enthusiasts, from national to international museums, from young to old, from the curios to the seriously interested, from fund investors to decorators, from the loyal clients to those that have bought only one artwork… In a nutshell, they come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but all of them buy because they have fallen in love with a piece and give us their trust.
“Our gallery looks like us and reflects ourselves. Our passion for classical antiquities does not affect our curiosity regarding other fields.”
artfairmag: Is there a type of piece that your collectors are more looking for than others? If so, is it the same at an art fair?
G. C.: People come to us for our taste and our seriousness. Our collectors are particularly looking for sculptures which, through their craftsmanship, fine quality and impeccable provenance, can make them dream and travel. That said, certain subjects such as a male torso or a voluptuous Venus will obviously attract more people. The fairs in which we participate give us the opportunity to have a greater visibility and bring us a new audience with different expectations.
artfairmag: For archaeological artworks, I feel like you must see it in real to appreciate it, to be touched by it. Do you think the health crisis and the resulting digitalisation of the art market will change the way you do your job?
G. C.: Our sculptures bring an emotion which is almost impossible to get from a screen. For a long time, we have worked on our online presence, whether it is on Instagram or on our website, in order to be as interactive as possible. They are both important windows, nowadays accessible from anywhere and by everyone. This crisis has certainly changed our perception of the art market and its fragility, but we remain positive and we are patiently waiting for a return to a “new normal” soon. We always keep evaluating and adapting to all situations, but we will not completely change our approach to our profession as (antique) dealers.
artfairmag: To conclude this interview, I would love to know more about a piece that is special for you.
G. C.: We like to present to you this large head of an archaistic Hermes, probably Hellenistic, 1st century BC – 1st century AD. Being at the same time poetic and strong, the serene portrait of the god Hermes, protector of roads and travellers, is suggesting that the sculptor was strongly inspired by the fashion in Greece in the 6th century BC, known as archaic art wich make it really interesting as an Roman interpretation of another exciting era. We are not the first to be fascinated by this head. Among his owners, it used to belong to Andy Wharol in his private New York residence in Lexington.
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@danyszgallery at @urbanartfair 2024. Associate director Clémence Demolling presents a sculpture by @xmarkjenkinsx from 2021, ‘Holy Bible of War Cinema’.
#markjenkins #markjenkinsart #streetart #urbanart #urbanartfair #arturbain #contemporaryartist #artworkoftheday #strikingart
May 2
@danyszgallery at @urbanartfair 2024. Associate director Clémence Demolling presents a sculpture by @xmarkjenkinsx from 2021, ‘Holy Bible of War Cinema’.
#markjenkins #markjenkinsart #streetart #urbanart #urbanartfair #arturbain #contemporaryartist #artworkoftheday #strikingart
@jefaerosol at @urbanartfair 2024. The artist was featured in two booths: @david_pluskwa_art_contemporain & @galerie_mathgoth
Such a talented and inspiring artist!
#urbanart #jefaerosol #jefaérosol #jefaerosolart #urbanartfair #graffiti #streetart #aerosolart #aerosol
Apr 29
@jefaerosol at @urbanartfair 2024. The artist was featured in two booths: @david_pluskwa_art_contemporain & @galerie_mathgoth
Such a talented and inspiring artist!
#urbanart #jefaerosol #jefaérosol #jefaerosolart #urbanartfair #graffiti #streetart #aerosolart #aerosol
@underdogs_gallery at @urbanartfair 2024. Jessica Louro presents the work of the duo of artists @pichiavo who mixes Greek aesthetic with graffiti art.
#urbanart #pichiavo #pichiavograffiti #pichiavostudio #streetart #graffiti #urbanartfair #arturbain
Apr 28
@underdogs_gallery at @urbanartfair 2024. Jessica Louro presents the work of the duo of artists @pichiavo who mixes Greek aesthetic with graffiti art.
#urbanart #pichiavo #pichiavograffiti #pichiavostudio #streetart #graffiti #urbanartfair #arturbain
@mazelgalerie at @urbanartfair 2024 where I’ve came across the work of @levalet.art, a highly talented artist who create these amazing works with a peaceful foreground with an impactful background.
A real art crush (I’ve bought two pieces of him for my personal collection!)
#levalet #figurativeart #urbanartfair #urbanart #streetart #meaningfulart #contemporaryart
Apr 27
@mazelgalerie at @urbanartfair 2024 where I’ve came across the work of @levalet.art, a highly talented artist who create these amazing works with a peaceful foreground with an impactful background.
A real art crush (I’ve bought two pieces of him for my personal collection!)
#levalet #figurativeart #urbanartfair #urbanart #streetart #meaningfulart #contemporaryart
📣Upcoming ‘1 minute in the booth’ at @urbanartfair 2024:
• @jefaerosol at @david_pluskwa_art_contemporain & @galerie_mathgoth
• @underdogs_gallery
• @mazelgalerie
• @danyszgallery
• @ekowgalerie
#urbanartfair #urbanart #arturbain #jefaerosol #aerosolart #graffiti #streetart #artfair
Apr 26
📣Upcoming ‘1 minute in the booth’ at @urbanartfair 2024:
• @jefaerosol at @david_pluskwa_art_contemporain & @galerie_mathgoth
• @underdogs_gallery
• @mazelgalerie
• @danyszgallery
• @ekowgalerie
#urbanartfair #urbanart #arturbain #jefaerosol #aerosolart #graffiti #streetart #artfair
@urbanartfair 2024 has just opened the doors of its 7th edition in Paris! Don’t miss this opportunity to dive into this vibrant art and experience the raw, the real, the street-brought-indoors!
Artists featured in the video:
• Keith Haring at @vroomandvarossieau
• @ernestpignon at @art_to_be_gallery
• @missticofficiel at @art_to_be_gallery
• @ladypinknyc at @graffitiandco
• @invaderwashere at @galerieangebasso
Photo cover at @brugier_rigail_galerie and first scene at @malagacha_gallery with @svengraffiti
Thank you @gkeroparis for the very arty jumpsuit and @karinearabianparis for the shoes 💚
#urbanartfair #urbanart #arturbain #streetart #graffiti #invader #ernestpignonernest #keithharing #misstic #ladypink
Apr 25
@urbanartfair 2024 has just opened the doors of its 7th edition in Paris! Don’t miss this opportunity to dive into this vibrant art and experience the raw, the real, the street-brought-indoors!
Artists featured in the video:
• Keith Haring at @vroomandvarossieau
• @ernestpignon at @art_to_be_gallery
• @missticofficiel at @art_to_be_gallery
• @ladypinknyc at @graffitiandco
• @invaderwashere at @galerieangebasso
Photo cover at @brugier_rigail_galerie and first scene at @malagacha_gallery with @svengraffiti
Thank you @gkeroparis for the very arty jumpsuit and @karinearabianparis for the shoes 💚
#urbanartfair #urbanart #arturbain #streetart #graffiti #invader #ernestpignonernest #keithharing #misstic #ladypink
@matta___________ at @miartmilano 2024. Co founder Pietro Rossi presents the solo show dedicated to Maximilian Arnold @maxadnorl.
#miart #miart2024 #maximilianarnold #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #emergingart #excitingart #collage
Apr 24
@matta___________ at @miartmilano 2024. Co founder Pietro Rossi presents the solo show dedicated to Maximilian Arnold @maxadnorl.
#miart #miart2024 #maximilianarnold #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #emergingart #excitingart #collage
@primomarellagallery at @miartmilano 2024. @danielemarella presents an incredible work by Kenji Sugiyama.
@kenjisugiyama_works
#miart #kenjisugiyama #miniatureworld #miniaturework #contemporaryart #amazingart #amazingartwork
Apr 23
@primomarellagallery at @miartmilano 2024. @danielemarella presents an incredible work by Kenji Sugiyama.
@kenjisugiyama_works
#miart #kenjisugiyama #miniatureworld #miniaturework #contemporaryart #amazingart #amazingartwork
@wizardgallery at @miartmilano 2024. Founder @federicoluger presents a painting by @raul_cordero_studio.
#miart #miart2024 #raulcordero #contemporaryartist #poppainting #paintingoftheday #artistoftheday
Apr 22
@wizardgallery at @miartmilano 2024. Founder @federicoluger presents a painting by @raul_cordero_studio.
#miart #miart2024 #raulcordero #contemporaryartist #poppainting #paintingoftheday #artistoftheday
My full article about @miartmilano 2024 is now available on artfairmag.com 🙌🏻
Swing by @arena1906 at @galleriaraffaellacortese.
#miart #miart2024 #francescoarena #swing #contemporaryart #artlover #artofinstagram #artoftheday
Apr 21
My full article about @miartmilano 2024 is now available on artfairmag.com 🙌🏻
Swing by @arena1906 at @galleriaraffaellacortese.
#miart #miart2024 #francescoarena #swing #contemporaryart #artlover #artofinstagram #artoftheday
@venice.art.biennale 2024! @sarah_belmont_ reported for artfairmag to give you an exciting glimpse of what’s going on in Venice, at this 60th edition of the Biennale, curated by @adrianopedrosa, under the title “Foreigners Everywere“, borrowed from the anti-racist work by Claire Fontaine @foreignerseverywhere.
• Senegal Pavilion: @aliounediagne_officiel presented by @galerietemplon
• Lebanon Pavilion: Mounirah Al Sohl
• Uruguay Pavilion: @cardozobenia
• Australia Pavilion: @kithandkin_2024
• US Pavilion: @jeffrune
Thank you @agencedezarts for filming 🎥
#venicebiennale #venicebiennale2024 #venice #artbiennale #aliounediagne #mouniraalsolh #contemporaryart
Apr 20
@venice.art.biennale 2024! @sarah_belmont_ reported for artfairmag to give you an exciting glimpse of what’s going on in Venice, at this 60th edition of the Biennale, curated by @adrianopedrosa, under the title “Foreigners Everywere“, borrowed from the anti-racist work by Claire Fontaine @foreignerseverywhere.
• Senegal Pavilion: @aliounediagne_officiel presented by @galerietemplon
• Lebanon Pavilion: Mounirah Al Sohl
• Uruguay Pavilion: @cardozobenia
• Australia Pavilion: @kithandkin_2024
• US Pavilion: @jeffrune
Thank you @agencedezarts for filming 🎥
#venicebiennale #venicebiennale2024 #venice #artbiennale #aliounediagne #mouniraalsolh #contemporaryart
@kaufmannrepetto at @miartmilano 2024. Co founder @chiararepetto presents a painting by @lilyvanderstokker.
#miart #miart2024 #lilyvanderstokker #contemporaryart #artgallery #flowers #poppainting
Apr 19
@kaufmannrepetto at @miartmilano 2024. Co founder @chiararepetto presents a painting by @lilyvanderstokker.
#miart #miart2024 #lilyvanderstokker #contemporaryart #artgallery #flowers #poppainting