In this episode of The Art Bystander, our host Roland-Philippe Kretzschmar meets with Nicolas Hugo, the now leader of Ateliers Hugo.

Ateliers Hugo, nestled in Aix en Provence, France, has been a bastion of creativity since the early 1950s, crafting exquisite jewelry and limited-edition objects in gold. Their legacy intertwines with history, embracing tradition, skilled craftsmanship, and collaboration with legendary artists, sparking a renaissance in artist-made jewelry.

In the aftermath of World War II, François and Monique Hugo founded Ateliers Hugo, initially focusing on crafting enamel and metal buttons and objects for fashion and commercial ventures, collaborating with esteemed designers like Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli. Surrounded by the artistic milieu of the South of France, Hugo cultivated friendships with luminaries such as Picasso, Derain, and Ernst, igniting a movement where artists experimented with jewelry as an art form.

The journey continued as Picasso and others sought collaborations with Hugo, laying the foundation for a pioneering era in jewelry artistry from 1956 to 1961. This period witnessed artists like Cocteau infusing their distinctive visions into small, gold objects, transcending commercial considerations for pure artistic exploration.

A "second wave" emerged in the late 1960s and 1970s under Pierre Hugo's stewardship, marrying experimentation with commercial viability. Collaborations with artists like Arman, César, and Salvador Dali birthed masterpieces that adorned museums and galleries worldwide, elevating jewelry to coveted collectibles.

Despite soaring demand, Ateliers Hugo remained a closely-knit family business, cherishing tradition and familial bonds. The studio's ethos, deeply entrenched in familial heritage, fosters a culture where lunchtime gatherings are as sacred as the craft itself.

In the contemporary era, under the leadership of Nicolas Hugo, Ateliers Hugo continues its legacy, collaborating with artists like Ugo Rondinone and Eric Croes, bridging the past with the present. Upholding tradition while embracing modernity, they maintain their unique stamp, rooted in time-honored techniques passed down through generations. With a commitment to serving artists and bearing witness to the zeitgeist, Ateliers Hugo preserves its legacy while illuminating the artistic landscape of today, embodying a timeless mission of creativity and cultural stewardship.

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In this episode, Roland-Philippe Kretzschmar, is entering an inspiring and insightful conversation with Scandinavian art world legend Björn Wetterling.

1984, in the heart of Stockholm, at the iconic Kungsträdgården 3, something remarkable happened; Wetterling Gallery opened its doors. This moment marked the beginning of what would become a cornerstone in Sweden's contemporary art scene.

Under the visionary leadership of Björn Wetterling, the gallery became the gateway for seminal American artists of the time, artists whose names are now synonymous with modern art greatness— Robert Rauschenberg, Frank Stella, Jasper Johns, James Rosenquist, Helen Frankenthaler, and Ed Ruscha, just to name a few.

But the Wetterling Gallery's journey didn't stop with the icons of the 80s. Over the decades, it has evolved, embracing a wide spectrum of artistic expressions and stages of career development. Today, while still honoring its roots and the artists who laid its foundation, the gallery is a vibrant platform for both emerging and established talents, particularly those from Scandinavia or based in the region.

At the core of the Wetterling Gallery's mission, guided by Björn Wetterling and his dedicated team, is a profound respect for the unique vision and instinct of each artist they represent. It's a place where art is not just seen; it's experienced, where every exhibition is a testament to the gallery's commitment to diversity, innovation, and the unwavering belief in the power of art to inspire and transform.

So, join us as we explore the legacy of the Wetterling Gallery, its impact on the art world, and the stories of the artists who have called it home. It's a journey through four decades of artistic excellence, and we're just getting started.

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In this episode of The Art Bystander, Roland-Philippe Kretzschmar meets with Camelia Esmaili the founder and managing director of l’Atelier Camelia, a research-based art advisory and collection management firm based in Paris and Dubai having catered to some of the major art collectors in the Middle East and France, she caters to both the private and public sector for investment value art collections in modern and contemporary art, innovative emerging art acquisitions, sales and art strategy and oversee regularly curated art exhibions in art foundations on behalf of her clients.

A post-war modern and contemporary art specialist and expert in modern and contemporary art from the Middle East and North-Africa she developed and diversified major art collections in the Middle East and France with key acquisitions and more than 2.000 pieces.

She is born and grew up in Paris and studied at Université Paris Diderot Languages and Literature, then lived ten years in Dubai and gain an exclusive insights from Arabic peninsula contemporary and modern art scenes intertwined with art from India and Pakistan, Iran and Turkey, Arab world and North Africa working for some of the biggest household names.

Camelia offers expert guidance on curating and diversifying modern art collections with blue chip works fork major art scenes (mainstream and Middle East but also source form china and indian art scenes) connecting with new artists and new histories from emerging markets for new narratives. Her art investment acquisition caters to banks and sovereign funds which she is a regularly contributor (BNP Parisbas France, Mirabaux Swiss, Mubadallah Abu Dhabi etc) and has on her collector list some of the top 200 art collectors in the world .

Camelia’s mission is to bridge the gap between the museum and commercial worlds through scientific art advisory services for private and public art collections with a plural art history perspective

Her public clients includes : Farjam art foundation, Dubai Airports, Mubadallah group, Jumeirah Creekside hotel (largest corporate art collection of middle eastern contemporary Art in the Middle East) owned by Jumeirah group and and Dubai Duty Free and Mirabeau Bank among many others

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