Galerie Kugel
Located in Hôtel Collot near the Place de la Concorde in Paris, it the Galerie J. Kugel is specialized in museum-quality artworks from Medieval and Renaissance down to the Empire period. The eclecticism of works of art is tremendous with Kunstkammer objects, silver, furniture, sculpture, ivories, scientific instruments, rock crystal, Russian art, and paintings.
Galerie Kugel
Located in Hôtel Collot near the Place de la Concorde in Paris, it the Galerie J. Kugel is specialized in museum-quality artworks from Medieval and Renaissance down to the Empire period. The eclecticism of works of art is tremendous with Kunstkammer objects, silver, furniture, sculpture, ivories, scientific instruments, rock crystal, Russian art, and paintings.
Antique Art
25 quai Anatole France
75007 Paris, FR
+33 (0) 1 42 60 86 23
galerie@galeriekugel.com
José Maria Sert
Décor for Corina Kavanagh’s music room
Buenos Aires, 1938
Oil and gold on canvas
H. 2,5m x Total L. 14,77m
All our Interviews
Read all our exclusive interviews with antique, modern, contemporary & primitive art dealers.
Interview with Alexis & Nicolas Kugel
Alexis and Nicolas Kugel in their library, 2018 © Vanity Fair
Interview by Pauline Loeb-Obrenan, founder of artfairmag.
When the brilliant art dealer Jacques Kugel died in 1985, his sons Alexis and Nicolas Kugel were only 19 and 22 years old. As the fifth generation of art dealers, they had such a big challenge on their hands: continuing or even surpassing what their father had created. Successful changeover for Galerie J. Kugel which is today recognized as one of the most important antique art galleries around the world. With TEFAF Maastricht taking place early March where Galerie Kugel will exhibit, I spoke to Alexis and Nicolas about this unique fair.
artfairmag: Your gallery has participated in TEFAF Maastricht, Netherlands, almost since its creation in 1988 and I presume you have been the witnesses of many changes. How was the fair at the beginning, before becoming this unmissable event?
Alexis Kugel: This fair is even older. My father participated to the 1978 edition. I was 12 and accompanied him. At one point he asked me to keep the booth for half an hour. It was a traumatic experience. I thought all the visitors were there to rob. We returned in 1990. It was still a bit provincial but we could sense it had all the requirement to become a leading fair.
Nicolas Kugel: In 1990 the fair was very interesting at that time it attracted some Dutch and German clients who would never travel to any other fair. The ambiance between colleagues was excellent and we felt very welcome in this venture.
artfairmag: You have recreated in Hôtel Collot a true connoisseur’s home, presenting furniture, paintings, sculptures and works of art in a luxurious yet intimate décor. It seems challenging to do the same in a fair booth. How do you adapt for a fair, and does it change the way people view your pieces?
A.K: In our case a fair is frustrating because we have to show the wide range of field we are dealing with in a limited space. I encourage everyone to visit our Paris Gallery but we still have very good clients who buy from us in Maastricht for more than 10 years and never visited us in Paris.
N.K: One is always revealing a vision on art by the proximity of the art and the display. Even with a simpler decoration the choice of pieces is our signature like every exhibitor.
“We were raised in the culture of “maximalism” as opposed to “minimalism”. It has been our trademark as long as quantity still rhymes with quality.”
artfairmag: Collectors’ tastes and trends have changed a lot in 30 years. How have you adapted and evolved the way you showcase artworks on a stand?
A.K: We were raised in the culture of “maximalism” as opposed to “minimalism”. It has been our trademark as long as quantity still rhymes with quality. We are trying to reduce the number of pieces to bring to the fair but it is still about 200 instead 300 while some other dealers sometime bring less than 10 pieces.
N.K: We try to improve our display every year, but it depends of the pieces we have been able to gather every year. We try to create a surprise every time.
artfairmag: Last year in Maastricht, you showcased an exceptional décor comprising 28 panels created in the 1930s by José María Sert. Can you give us some insights about what visitors will admire on your stand this time?
A.K: No, I like surprises.
N.K: We typically do not reveal our highlights before the fair opens. What we want to emulate at Maastricht is the effect of surprise and excitement…so you will have to come and see!
artfairmag: After all these years, I have no doubt that you both know the city of Maastricht very well. Can you share some places you like with our readers that will come to TEFAF in March?
A.K: Harry’s Bar at the Beaumont Hotel is a nice restaurant with a bistrot atmosphere. To stay, or for a drink, the Kruisherenhotel, a former monastery and 15th-century Gothic church. Don’t miss out on the Treasury at the Basilica of St. Servaas, which houses beautiful medieval artworks.
N.K: The Bonnenfanten Museum and discovering the small streets of the old city.
More Interviews
TOMASSO
Previously known as Tomasso Brothers Fine Art, the gallery is specialized in high-quality European Sculpture from the early Renaissance to the Neo-Classical period.
Galerie Chenel
Colnaghi
Created in 1783, Colnaghi is one of the oldest galleries. Specialised in the European Old Master paintings and sculptures, it is co-directed since 2015 by Jorge Coll.
Rafael Valls
Opened in 1976 by Rafael Valls and directed by Toby Campbell, the gallery focuses on Old Master Paintings – Dutch, Flemish and Spanish paintings from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
🎙️In Conversation With: @camille_morineau, founder of the AWARE Foundation, short for Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitons @awarewomenart.
We talked about the new ‘Modern Women’ section she has curated for the upcoming Frieze Masters @friezeofficial.
Thank you Camille for this very interesting discussion and looking forward to visiting the fair!
@followaginger
#artfairmag #artfair #womenartist #womenartists #modernart #friezemasters #frieze #femaleartist #femaleartists #friezelondon #arttalk #arttalks
Sep 30
🎙️In Conversation With: @camille_morineau, founder of the AWARE Foundation, short for Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitons @awarewomenart.
We talked about the new ‘Modern Women’ section she has curated for the upcoming Frieze Masters @friezeofficial.
Thank you Camille for this very interesting discussion and looking forward to visiting the fair!
@followaginger
#artfairmag #artfair #womenartist #womenartists #modernart #friezemasters #frieze #femaleartist #femaleartists #friezelondon #arttalk #arttalks
💫 Booth in the spotlight: @candida_stevens at the @britishartfair 2023. While visiting the fair for the very first time, I came across the booth of Candida Stevens and I’ve appreciated very much its consistency. She presents the work of 4 female artists with different styles and yet United around the theme of nature. Well done Candida!
1. Kerry Harding @kerryharding_art
2. Pippa Blake @pippablake
3. Katharine Le Hardy @katharinelehardy
4. Celia Cook @celiacookstudio
#artfairmag #artfair #britishart #britishartist #contemporaryart #contemporarypainting #modernart #emergingartist #artcollector
Sep 29
💫 Booth in the spotlight: @candida_stevens at the @britishartfair 2023. While visiting the fair for the very first time, I came across the booth of Candida Stevens and I’ve appreciated very much its consistency. She presents the work of 4 female artists with different styles and yet United around the theme of nature. Well done Candida!
1. Kerry Harding @kerryharding_art
2. Pippa Blake @pippablake
3. Katharine Le Hardy @katharinelehardy
4. Celia Cook @celiacookstudio
#artfairmag #artfair #britishart #britishartist #contemporaryart #contemporarypainting #modernart #emergingartist #artcollector
✨Follow Pauline at the @britishartfair 2023. I finally had the chance to visit this fair, which I’d heard so much about. 70 dealers from London and all over the UK are gathered at the Saatchi Gallery to present a fine cross-section of British art. Lots of paintings but not only! A nice venue for a nice art fair that you can visit until this Sunday evening.
#artfairmag #artfair #britishartfair #saatchigallery #britishart #britishartist #contemporaryart #modernart #followpauline #artlovers #artlover #londonexhibition
Sep 28
✨Follow Pauline at the @britishartfair 2023. I finally had the chance to visit this fair, which I’d heard so much about. 70 dealers from London and all over the UK are gathered at the Saatchi Gallery to present a fine cross-section of British art. Lots of paintings but not only! A nice venue for a nice art fair that you can visit until this Sunday evening.
#artfairmag #artfair #britishartfair #saatchigallery #britishart #britishartist #contemporaryart #modernart #followpauline #artlovers #artlover #londonexhibition
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @eleventhhour_art at @affordableartfairnyc 2023. Founder Lindsey Acree presents a realistic painting by @artbygingersnow.
#artfairmag #artfair #affordableartfair #affordableartfairny #affordableart #figurativepainting #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #artgallery #realisticart
Sep 27
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @eleventhhour_art at @affordableartfairnyc 2023. Founder Lindsey Acree presents a realistic painting by @artbygingersnow.
#artfairmag #artfair #affordableartfair #affordableartfairny #affordableart #figurativepainting #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #artgallery #realisticart
🗓️ Preparing the exciting month of October! Here are the fairs where you’ll soon see me:
✔️Frieze London & Frieze Masters
11-15 October 2023, London
@friezeofficial
✔️1-54 London
12-15 October 2023, London
@154artfair
✔️ Paris+ par Art Basel
18-22 October 2023, Paris
@artbasel
✔️ AKAA
19-22 October 2023, Paris
@akaa_fair
✔️Design Miami/ Paris
17-19 October
@designmiami
FIY: and here some other fairs occurring in October:
➖The Decorative Fair
3-8 October, London
@decorativefair
➖ART The Hague
4-8 October
@artthehague
➖FOCUS London
4-7 October
@focusartfair
➖SWAB Barcelona
5-8 October
@swabartfair
➖Affordable Art Fair
5-8 October, Stockholm
@affordableartfairsthlm
➖Art On Paper
5-8 October, Brussels
@artonpaperbrussels
➖PAD London
10-15 October
@padesignart
➖StART Art Fair
11-15 October, London
@start.art.global
➖REA! Art Fair
12-15 October, Milan
@rea.fair
➖Paris Internationale
18-19 October
@aaaahhhparisinternationale
➖Highlights Munich
18-22 October
@munichhighlights
➖Moderne Art Fair
19-22 October, Paris
@moderneartfair
➖Art Taipei
20-23 October
@arttaipei
➖ASIA Now
20-22 October, Paris
@asianow
➖Art Shopping
20-22 October, Paris
@artshoppingofficiel
➖Art Collaboration Kyoto
28-30 October
@artcollaborationkyoto
💥 Find info about all art fairs around the world on our global calendar, on artfairmag.com!
#artfairmag #artfair #artfairs #artbasel #frieze #1-54 #friezemasters #paulineloeb #followpauline #artlover #artlovers #globetrotter #artexpert #artcurator
Sep 25
🗓️ Preparing the exciting month of October! Here are the fairs where you’ll soon see me:
✔️Frieze London & Frieze Masters
11-15 October 2023, London
@friezeofficial
✔️1-54 London
12-15 October 2023, London
@154artfair
✔️ Paris+ par Art Basel
18-22 October 2023, Paris
@artbasel
✔️ AKAA
19-22 October 2023, Paris
@akaa_fair
✔️Design Miami/ Paris
17-19 October
@designmiami
FIY: and here some other fairs occurring in October:
➖The Decorative Fair
3-8 October, London
@decorativefair
➖ART The Hague
4-8 October
@artthehague
➖FOCUS London
4-7 October
@focusartfair
➖SWAB Barcelona
5-8 October
@swabartfair
➖Affordable Art Fair
5-8 October, Stockholm
@affordableartfairsthlm
➖Art On Paper
5-8 October, Brussels
@artonpaperbrussels
➖PAD London
10-15 October
@padesignart
➖StART Art Fair
11-15 October, London
@start.art.global
➖REA! Art Fair
12-15 October, Milan
@rea.fair
➖Paris Internationale
18-19 October
@aaaahhhparisinternationale
➖Highlights Munich
18-22 October
@munichhighlights
➖Moderne Art Fair
19-22 October, Paris
@moderneartfair
➖Art Taipei
20-23 October
@arttaipei
➖ASIA Now
20-22 October, Paris
@asianow
➖Art Shopping
20-22 October, Paris
@artshoppingofficiel
➖Art Collaboration Kyoto
28-30 October
@artcollaborationkyoto
💥 Find info about all art fairs around the world on our global calendar, on artfairmag.com!
#artfairmag #artfair #artfairs #artbasel #frieze #1-54 #friezemasters #paulineloeb #followpauline #artlover #artlovers #globetrotter #artexpert #artcurator
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @grusenmeyerwoliner at @parcoursdesmondes 2023. Co-founder Karim Grusenmeyer presents a Siberian winged bronze figure.
#artfairmag #artfair #tribalart #artpremier #siberianart #brusselsgallery #artcollector #artworkoftheday #amazingart #amazingartwork #artifinstagram
Sep 22
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @grusenmeyerwoliner at @parcoursdesmondes 2023. Co-founder Karim Grusenmeyer presents a Siberian winged bronze figure.
#artfairmag #artfair #tribalart #artpremier #siberianart #brusselsgallery #artcollector #artworkoftheday #amazingart #amazingartwork #artifinstagram
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @moskowitzbayse at @thearmoryshow 2023. Co-founder Adam Moskowitz @amoskowitz18 presents a wall sculpture by @michaelhenryhayden.
#artfairmag #artfair #michaelhenryhayden #hollywood #hollywoodart #contemporaryart #artdealer #wallsculpture #wallart #sculpture #artworkoftheday
Sep 20
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @moskowitzbayse at @thearmoryshow 2023. Co-founder Adam Moskowitz @amoskowitz18 presents a wall sculpture by @michaelhenryhayden.
#artfairmag #artfair #michaelhenryhayden #hollywood #hollywoodart #contemporaryart #artdealer #wallsculpture #wallart #sculpture #artworkoftheday
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @tenzingasianart at @parcoursdesmondes 2023. Founder Iwana Tenzing presents an embroidered silk banner from Central Asia, 11th - 12th century.
#artfairmag #artfair #parcoursdesmondes #asianart #asiaart #antiqueart #antiquetextiles #antiqueembroidery #embroidery #artworkoftheday #antiqueart #artworkoftheday #artcurator
Sep 19
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @tenzingasianart at @parcoursdesmondes 2023. Founder Iwana Tenzing presents an embroidered silk banner from Central Asia, 11th - 12th century.
#artfairmag #artfair #parcoursdesmondes #asianart #asiaart #antiqueart #antiquetextiles #antiqueembroidery #embroidery #artworkoftheday #antiqueart #artworkoftheday #artcurator
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @galerie_thomas at @kiaf_official Seoul 2023. Senior director Silke Thomas presents a painting by #marcchagall.
✨Interview by Alicia Kim @kimhuieun.s, artfairmag Asia correspondent.
#artfairmag #artfair #kiafseoul #kiaf #kiaf2023 #chagall #chagallpainting #modernart #modernpainting #artcollector #paintingoftheday
Sep 17
🎥 1 minute in the booth: @galerie_thomas at @kiaf_official Seoul 2023. Senior director Silke Thomas presents a painting by #marcchagall.
✨Interview by Alicia Kim @kimhuieun.s, artfairmag Asia correspondent.
#artfairmag #artfair #kiafseoul #kiaf #kiaf2023 #chagall #chagallpainting #modernart #modernpainting #artcollector #paintingoftheday
✨Follow Pauline at @menart_fair 2023 which showcases the best of the booming art scene in the MENA region. Until Sunday evening at the Palais d’Iena!
@samar_mogharbel_ceramics @dhautevilletasledheliand
#artfairmag #menart #menartfair #menaart #mena #artcollector #artlovers #parisart #artparis #emergingartist #middleeastart #northafricanart #contemporaryart #followpauline
Sep 15
✨Follow Pauline at @menart_fair 2023 which showcases the best of the booming art scene in the MENA region. Until Sunday evening at the Palais d’Iena!
@samar_mogharbel_ceramics @dhautevilletasledheliand
#artfairmag #menart #menartfair #menaart #mena #artcollector #artlovers #parisart #artparis #emergingartist #middleeastart #northafricanart #contemporaryart #followpauline
📣 Upcoming 1’ in the booth videos at @parcoursdesmondes 2023:
- @tenzingasianart, San Francisco
- @galerieflak, Paris
- @grusenmeyerwoliner, Brussels
- @dalton_somare_milano, Milan
- @artaborigene, Paris
- @michael_hamson_oceanic_art, Palos Verdes Estates
#artfairmag #artfair #tribalart #oceanianart #aboriginalart #africanart #artpremier #teaser #interviews #artcurator
Sep 15
📣 Upcoming 1’ in the booth videos at @parcoursdesmondes 2023:
- @tenzingasianart, San Francisco
- @galerieflak, Paris
- @grusenmeyerwoliner, Brussels
- @dalton_somare_milano, Milan
- @artaborigene, Paris
- @michael_hamson_oceanic_art, Palos Verdes Estates
#artfairmag #artfair #tribalart #oceanianart #aboriginalart #africanart #artpremier #teaser #interviews #artcurator
1 minute in the booth: @smac_gallery at @thearmoryshow 2023. Director Baylon Sandri presents the work of South African artist @marysibande.
#artfairmag #artfair #thearmoryshow #marysibande #southafricanartist #southafricanart #powerfulwomen #artgallery #southafricaart #artcollector #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #femaleartist #blackartist
Sep 13
1 minute in the booth: @smac_gallery at @thearmoryshow 2023. Director Baylon Sandri presents the work of South African artist @marysibande.
#artfairmag #artfair #thearmoryshow #marysibande #southafricanartist #southafricanart #powerfulwomen #artgallery #southafricaart #artcollector #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #femaleartist #blackartist