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Simon de Pury

Chairman, Phillips de Pury & Company

One of the art world's leading figures, Simon de Pury is renowned for his deep and long-standing knowledge of the global marketplace and his legendary auctioneering style. He generates excitement in the saleroom with a display of great wit and can conduct sales in four languages-English, French, German and Italian.

Born in Basel in 1951, Simon de Pury studied at The Academy of Fine Arts in Tokyo in the 1970s. After working at the auctioneers, Kornfeld & Klipstein in Bern and subsequently studying at Sotheby's Institute, Simon de Pury joined Sotheby's working in London, Geneva and Monte Carlo.

In 1997, Simon de Pury co-founded with Daniella Luxembourg, de Pury & Luxembourg Art, a Geneva-based art advisory firm. In 2001, this firm merged with Phillips Auctioneers to become Phillips, de Pury and Luxembourg which specialized in the sale of Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary art, Jewelry, Photography, and 20th and 21st Century Decorative Arts. In 2004, Simon de Pury became the majority shareholder and Chairman of Phillips de Pury & Company.

Simon de Pury: Has interest in contemporary Asian art changed your share of the market?

The market has yet to understand the scale of the contemporary Asian art scene, de Pury says.

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Simon de Pury: Whom would you like to interview?

On picking a living artist’s brain.

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Simon de Pury: Who are today’s green artists?

De Pury on the work emerging from England and Africa.

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Simon de Pury: Developing Art Scenes

De Pury predicts that Brazil, Turkey and Indonesia are going to produce some great art.

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Simon de Pury: Who are today’s most underrated artists?

Frank Stella’s influence will only increase in the coming decades, de Pury says.

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Simon de Pury: Science and the Arts

What can art learn from science, and vice-versa?

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Simon de Pury: How does art inform our lives?

De Pury sees the art in the work of Steve Jobs and Tupac Shakur.

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Simon de Pury: Is there too much pressure on today's artists to produce?

We all need to deal with pressure, de Pury says.

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Simon de Pury: Who are your favorite 20th-century designers?

The 21st-century designers.

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Simon de Pury: What is design?

When does a piece of furniture become a work of art?

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Simon de Pury: What is your favorite work of art?

Koons’ “Pink Panther.”

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Simon de Pury: Has art’s social importance diminished?

A yacht isn’t as impressive as a cultural contribution, de Pury says.

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Simon de Pury: Is art collecting strictly for the wealthy?

Even a little Swiss baker can put together an impressive collection.

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Simon de Pury: Is art the best investment?

Buying art should be more about passion, de Pury says.

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Simon de Pury: Are we going to see more Matthew Barney sales?

De Pury believes there’s also an untapped market for old Japanese robots.

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Simon de Pury: Does your work have a curatorial element?

An auction, de Pury says, is put together much the way an exhibition is.

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Simon de Pury: Are you worried about a recession’s effect on the art market?

If you take a long-term view, de Pury says, you can only be optimistic.

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Simon de Pury: Are auction guarantees changing the art market?

The guarantee is the result of overheated competition.

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Simon de Pury: The Next Generation of Art Collectors

Who is succeeding the Whitneys, the Forbeses, the Annenbergs?

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Simon de Pury: Distinguishing Hype From Value

Buy with your gut, de Pury says.

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Simon de Pury: How do you handle the stress of an auction?

Its a high-wire act, says de Pury.

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Simon de Pury: What was your most memorable career moment?

De Pury conducted the first art auction in Russia since the Bolshevik Revolution.

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Simon de Pury: Competing with Christies and Sotheby’s

De Pury built a global brand by focusing on contemporary art and design.

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Simon de Pury: Setting Foot in an Auction House

De Pury wants to expose as many people as possible to be exposed to art.

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Simon de Pury: When did you start collecting art?

The first time de Pury plunked down money for art, he got the collector’s disease.

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Simon de Pury: Who are you?

Two decisive hours in Central Park.

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