Exploring Europe's First Women Artists Museum

Former commodities trader Christian Levett has revealed plans to transform his antiquities museum in southern France into the “first museum in Europe dedicated to art by women artists.” The Mougins Museum of Classical Art, owned by Levett, will undergo a complete renovation, transitioning from a classical art museum to an exhibition space highlighting modern and contemporary art by women. The revamped museum rebranded as the Femmes Artistes du Musée de Mougins will reopen in spring 2024.

Levett’s collection includes works by prominent women artists such as Joan Mitchell, Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, Howardena Pindell, Cecily Brown, and Nancy Graves. Levett, who previously built an extensive collection of classical antiquities and contemporary art, shifted his focus during the pandemic to acquiring a comprehensive collection of female Abstract Expressionism pieces.

Levett’s commitment to showcasing women’s art extends to other exhibitions. He sponsored shows for UK artists Flora Yukhnovich and Daniel Crews-Chubb at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. His Florence residence boasts an art collection entirely composed of works by female artists, primarily from Britain and America.

The shift towards spotlighting women artists reflects Levett’s dedication to promoting inclusivity and representation within the art world, marking a significant step toward recognizing and celebrating women’s contributions to art.

–Re-reported from the article originally published in The Art Newspaper