Inside Eye of the Collector: An interview with Nazy Vassegh

Photographer: Linda Nyland

Reflecting on this year’s Eye of the Collector exhibition, we are delighted to have contributed as their Paint Partner. Nazy Vassegh, an art consultant with over 25 years of experience, founded Eye of the Collector in 2020, transforming the traditional art fair concept. For its fourth edition, it is set in the beautifully restored Grade II listed Garrison Chapel, seamlessly combining art, history, and sustainable design. Our Purifying Paints provided a beautiful and healthy environment for the exquisite art and collectible design on display.

In our conversation with Nazy, she shared her vision and experiences that shaped this unique event, offering an inside look at the thoughtful curation and planning behind it. Her dedication to creating an environmentally responsible art world aligns perfectly with our goal of promoting indoor wellness through our natural mineral-based paints.

Read on to explore our insightful Q&A with Nazy Vassegh.

1: Your career in the art world spans over 25 years. What were the defining moments that led you to establish Eye of the Collector, and how have these experiences shaped your vision for the fair?

My career in the art world has been varied giving me an in-depth understanding of the mechanics of the international art world and the evolving nature of collecting. My roles have spanned the worlds of Jewellery, design, Modern and contemporary art. At Sotheby’s, I launched a client programme focusing on top-tier clients, and have also been CEO of Masterpiece Fair and had my own global art advisory company for 14 years. All this led me to launch Eye of The Collector, an alternative art platform which aims to take visitors on a journey of artistic discovery.

2: How did you work on creating a thoughtful flow throughout the property, and what were the key considerations in reconfiguring the layout?

I work extensively throughout the year in sourcing and placing art and design works for clients. Eye of The Collector is a more public manifestation of this whereby we juxtapose art from different genres against beautiful architectural backdrops. The search and selection of venues takes months and we were delighted to discover the Garrison Chapel for this year’s edition. It’s been beautifully restored, it is Grade II and home to The King’s Foundation in London, all making it unique and special.

3: Can you share a memorable moment or a highlight from this year’s edition of Eye of the Collector?

We had many, but one has stayed with the unwrapping of the kimono cabinet by Zelouf and Bell just 3 days after it had been finished. The cabinet still smelt of lacquer! This exceptional piece was created especially for us.

4: What qualities of Graphenstone paint influenced your decision to use them in the exhibition spaces?

I was very impressed by their colour palette, the depth of colour and their commitment to sustainability.

5: How did the choice of Graphenstone align with your commitment to providing a healthy and enjoyable environment for all attendees?

From the outset, with Eye of The Collector, we have sought to minimise our carbon footprint and that is one of the reasons we happen in existing buildings, thereby mitigating the need to put up and take down temporary structures. As such we work with partners that are also committed to the environment. Graphenstone is the first paint manufacturer to adopt Switch2Zero for net-zero carbon emissions.

6: How does sustainability influence the curation and organisation of Eye of the Collector, and how does Graphenstone support these sustainable practices?

We are committed to creating an environmentally responsible art world. We deploy best practices here by taking place in existing buildings, encouraging consolidated shipments, and minimising our use of paper. Graphenstone supports these with its ecological, and environmental paints.

7: What colours were selected from Graphenstone’s range for the exhibition, and what influenced these colour choices?

We regularly place art works in homes and other environments and the paint plays a very important role in the presentation of art in interiors. We looked at Graphenstone’s extensive colour palette and decided to go with two colours – Stone and Graphene, both of which looked fantastic with our art works.

8: As the founder of Eye of the Collector, what advice would you give to other art fair organisers looking to integrate sustainable practices and materials into their events?

I think overall our industry needs to have more stringent targets to bring about a reduction in our sector’s greenhouse gas emissions.

We are proud to have played a role in this journey of artistic discovery, enhancing the visual and environmental quality of the event.

Nazy Vassegh Interview: Find Out More

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