In the art world, no name is more widely recognized than that of avant-garde art collector Peggy Guggenheim. Born in 1898, Guggenheim was one of the most influential art dealers and collectors of Modern European and American art of the 20th century. After moving to Paris in 1924, Guggenheim quickly established herself as a prominent figure in the art world.
From her gallery and salon in the city, Guggenheim supported emerging artists such as Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp, and Wassily Kandinsky. In this article, we’ll be exploring Peggy Guggenheim’s fascinating biography, her achievements as an art collector, and her legacy in avant-garde art.
Early Life and Family Connection
Peggy Guggenheim was born on August 26, 1898, in New York City. She was the eldest daughter of Benjamin and Florette Seligman Guggenheim. Her father was a wealthy businessman and her mother was a niece of the German art collector and industrialist Solomon Guggenheim. Peggy’s sister, Hazel, was born two years later and the two had a close relationship their whole lives.
At the age of 14, Peggy’s father died on the Titanic in 1912, and her mother remarried shortly after his death. Peggy and her sister were sent to boarding school and had an unconventional education due to their mother’s progressive views. As young adults, they both moved to Paris and Peggy became immersed in the culture of the city.
Rise to Prominence
In the 1920s, Peggy established herself as a key figure in the Paris art scene. She mingled with the likes of Duchamp, Man Ray, Picasso, and other influential avant-garde artists. She followed in the footsteps of her uncle, Solomon Guggenheim, by opening up her gallery in Paris. The Galerie Guggenheim showcased modern and avant-garde art from Europe, Japan and the United States.
In 1925, Peggy married Howard Cushing and in 1927, she opened the Entre-Deux-Mondes where she held salons and private gatherings for renown cultural figures. Peggy’s gallery was instrumental in elevating the stature of Post-Impressionist and early Modern painters, such as Joan Miró, Max Ernst and Alexander Calder, in Paris.
The Art Dealer and Collector
Throughout the 1930s, Peggy Guggenheim supported avant-garde artists and pushed the boundaries of modern art. In addition to museum exhibits in Paris, she opened three more galleries in London and acquired works from many of the most important figures in modern art of the time. In 1937, Guggenheim returned to America to hold an exhibit of her personal collection at the opening of the Museum of Non-Objective Painting, which was the first museum in America dedicated to modern art.
In 1942, Guggenheim was forced to leave Europe due to the outbreak of World War II and returned to New York where she opened Art of This Century. Her gallery helped launch the careers of numerous prominent Abstract Expressionist and abstract artists, including Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning and Robert Motherwell.
Guggenheim was also a renowned collector of modern art and had a large collection of over 300 works of art. She was a fierce advocate for the artists she supported and bought hundreds of works from them. She was especially drawn to Surrealist and Dada works and acquired a substantial collection of works from these movements.
Peggy Guggenheim’s Legacy
Peggy Guggenheim was not only an influential art dealer and collector; she was also a fierce advocate for modern art and a pivotal figure in the development of today’s art world. She was a trailblazer for women in the art world and one of the most renowned female figures in the 20th century.
In 1947, Guggenheim’s artistic legacy was sealed when she opened the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in her Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, in Venice. This museum was dedicated to her personal collection and has become one of Italy’s most important modern art venues, attracting thousands of visitors each year.
In addition to her work as an art dealer and collector, Guggenheim wrote the memoir Out of This Century in 1946. This book chronicled her experiences in the art world and her encounters with renowned artists and figures. She also wrote the novel, Natura Contro.
Peggy Guggenheim was one of the most influential art dealers and collectors of modern and avant-garde art of the 20th century. By supporting emerging European and American artists and opening her gallery in Paris and New York, Guggenheim helped elevate the stature of modern art. She also established her own museum dedicated to her personal collection in Venice and wrote a memoir and novel about her experiences in the art world. Guggenheim’s passion and dedication to modern art left a permanent mark on the art world and will be remembered for generations to come.
