Introduction
Stephane Custot (born 1963), is a French gallerist and art dealer. He represents and manages the Waddington Custot Gallery in London, and Custot Gallery Dubai.
Early life
Stephane Custot was born in Paris in 1963, the son of a society dentist and collector of Chinese art. He studied at Panthéon-Assas University between 1983 and 1985. In 1987, he joined the Sotheby's Institute of Art in London to study history of art for one year.
Career
In 1988, he began working at the Hopkins Gallery in Paris, Avenue Matignon. While working at the gallery, Custot joined forces with Patrick Perrin to create a new fair: the Salon du Dessin. In 1996, Stephane Custot and Patrick Perrin founded SOC (Cultural Organization Society) to support cultural and artistic projects.
In 1998, Emmanuel Moatti joined Custot and Patrick, and they opened the Salon des Beaux-Arts in Paris. This fair became the Pavillon des Antiquaires and Beaux-Arts first installed in the Eiffel-Branly space and then at the Tuileries Gardens.
In 2001, after 13 years, Custot became associate co-director at the Hopkins Gallery. The gallery exhibits the work of artists including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Max Ernst and René Magritte, and contemporary art such as Sam Szafran, Jedd Novatt and Marc Quinn.
In 2007, the Pavillon des Antiquaires and Beaux-Arts became PAD Paris (Pavilion of Arts and Design) The same year, Custot (who in the meantime moved to live in London in 2005) and Perrin exported PAD to London. Located in Hanover Square, the fair presents design pieces from the 1860s to the present day. The fair takes place at the same time as Frieze. In 2011, the fair was exported for the first time to New York from 10 to 14 November. 49 international galleries set up at Park Avenue Armony. A second edition was launched in 2012. However, the fair only had minor success.
Waddington Custot Galleries in London
Following the departure of Lord Bernstein, Custot bought the shares and became a partner of the Waddington Gallery which became Waddington Custot Galleries. The gallery is located at 11-12 Cork Street, Mayfair in London, and exhibits the work of British, European and American artists. On 30 November 2015, Leslie Waddington died. Custot then became the sole director of Waddington Custot Galleries.
Custot Gallery Dubai
In March 2016, Custot opened Custot Gallery Dubai Gallery in the district of Alserkal Avenue in Dubai. The gallery represents contemporary art artists and participates in a few contemporary art fairs in the Middle East such as Art Abu Dhabi and Art Dubai.
Distinctions
- Custot serves on the expert panel of the National Company of Experts (CNE).
- In July 2008, Custot received the Chevalier Medal of the Order of Arts and Letters.
Personal life
Custot is married to Laurence, a former banker, they have two children, and live in Kensington, London.