It’s been our pleasure to take part in the Vendu–Sold fundraising auction since 2013, always curious to see which works the committee has chosen. In fact, we acquired our first works at the auction twelve years ago.
From edition to edition, we have bid on works by artists we already knew, and we’ve also let ourselves be surprised by artists we were unfamiliar with. There have been some regrets, but mainly happy moments. Giving in to a strong impulse is always a highlight, and living every day with the work we acquire keeps that feeling alive.
Over time—and with the guidance of friends and curators—we’ve gotten more confident. Little by little, the desire to visit more exhibitions has grown, whether in museums, galleries, fairs, and major events, here and elsewhere.
Our taste has evolved through our discoveries. We have opened ourselves to diverse practices, while remaining faithful to those whose work truly resonates with us. For us, acquiring more than one work by a single artist, at different moments of their career, is a way of encouraging them to continue their research and to recognize the richness of their practice.
Even today, the word “collection” feels a bit excessive. Can a project on the scale of ours really be called that? What inspires us is not so much accumulating, but living with art on a daily basis, being interested in artists’ work, reflections, virtuosity, and versatility.
Finally, participating in Vendu–Sold also means supporting the mission of Les éditions Esse. In a context in which contemporary visual arts receive little media attention, it seems important to us to support those who make them visible and rigorously analyze them.
Image: Mathieu Lévesque
Left – Chris Kline
Motes 2.4
2008
Vendu–Sold 2018
Centre (left) – Lorna Bauer
… air is where the effort goes… once our effort is spent… this crowded air… No. 8
2021
Centre (right) – Marie-Michelle Deschamps
Coquilles #13
2024
Right – Stéphane La Rue
Angles of Repose #5
2018