Before we met, Simon had already been interested in art since 2010, thanks in part to relationships he had built with a few well-known collectors in Québec. It wasn’t until 2016, when our paths crossed, that a shared passion emerged—one that was deeper, more refined, and more firmly rooted in conceptually oriented contemporary art. For more than eight years now, we have been building a collection that reflects who we are: it is vibrant, bold, and deeply anchored in the Canadian art scene, made up primarily of emerging and mid-career artists.
Today, our collection includes nearly one hundred works, which rotate frequently in our family residence. For us, art is never static—it is part of our daily lives. When we wake up in the morning, come home from work, have a moment to relax, or spend time with family on weekends, art brings us calm and adds a unique dimension to our environment.
Simon discovered Esse in 2015, through the Vendu–Sold auction, where he made his first acquisition of a conceptual work: Little Clusterfuck—quarters (2015) by Ken Nicol. Since 2016, we haven’t missed a single edition, adding up to five works from the auction to our collection each year. We are particularly fond of the Vendu–Sold auctions for the exceptional quality of their curatorial work, which resonates strongly with our collecting philosophy and our preferences regarding the demographics of the artists we consider for our purchases.
As parents of two young children, ages two and five, we are already beginning to share this passion with them. Right now, Simon’s three teenagers have only a modest interest, but we remain hopeful that one day the pull of art will reach them as it did us, later in our own lives.
Deeply engaged in the art world, we actively contribute to the boards of arts-related organizations and to a museum acquisition committee. We also nurture close ties with artists, galleries, museums, and other art organizations, through which we form friendships and meaningful connections.
For us, two professionals working in the finance world, art is far more than a collection of objects: it is an escape, a creative breath, and a counterbalance to a structured daily life. Art is our way of keeping alive a spirit of eclecticism and freedom across the personal, family, and professional spheres of our lives.
Image:
Nicolas Grenier
Étude (Dimensions)
2024
Vendu–Sold 2024