A landmark exhibition brings together more than 250 works once collected by Gustave Fayet
The Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris is shining a light on Gustave Fayet, an influential early 20th-century collector and designer whose role in championing modern art has faded from public memory. The exhibition, "Gustave Fayet, Collector-Designer: Icons of Modern Art," reunites more than 250 works from his collection, many rarely seen by the public.
Among the highlights is Vincent van Gogh's 1889 Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Pipe, which had not appeared in a public exhibition for decades. The show also features 86 works by Odilon Redon, 78 by Paul Gauguin and 10 by van Gogh, alongside works by artists including Paul Cézanne, Pierre Bonnard and Henri Matisse.
Fayet's collection reflects his early support for artists whose work was not yet widely embraced. He was especially drawn to bold color, nature-inspired imagery and imaginative themes. The exhibition also explores his own creative practice, presenting paintings, watercolors, illustrations, textiles, ceramics and carpets.
One major focus is Redon's monumental series Day, Night and Silence, commissioned by Fayet for the library of Fontfroide Abbey. The exhibition's final galleries bring together stained glass by Richard Burgsthal, created for the abbey, and works that reveal the breadth of Fayet's collecting and design interests. The exhibition is on view through March 8.
By reconnecting artworks with the collector who supported them, the exhibition offers a fresh perspective on how artistic communities help shape the canon--and how today's overlooked voices may influence tomorrow's art history.
