Founder of de PURY, Auctioneer, Art Dealer, Collector & DJ: Simon de Pury – Collecting, Taste & The Power of Curiosity

About this episode

The episode features a conversation with Simon de Pury about his life in the art world, exploring themes of collecting, taste, and curiosity.

The Gstaad Guy sits down with Simon de Pury, founder of de PURY, former chairman and chief auctioneer of Phillips de Pury & Company, former Europe chairman and chief auctioneer of Sotheby's, and former curator of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, to explore a life lived entirely in pursuit of beauty, curiosity, and the extraordinary. Raised on Swiss values and drawn to galleries and collectors from a young age, Simon reflects on how a deep obsession with art, music, and human connection shaped a career at the very centre of the global art world. The conversation moves through the philosophy of collecting, the evolution of taste, and why Simon believes everyone is a collector at heart whether they know it or not. He shares how art has become increasingly social, the barriers that have long defined the industry and the forces now dismantling them, and why the best pieces have a way of choosing their buyer rather than the other way around. Threaded throughout is the one tool Simon has always relied on as much as any eye for great work: humour. A generous, wide-ranging conversation about passion, obsession, and what it truly means to live with art. Filmed at The Twenty Two (London)…

People in this episode

Host: The Gstaad Guy

Guest: Simon de Pury

Topics covered

• art collecting
• curiosity
• taste evolution
• human connection
• art industry
• humour

Keywords

• art
• collecting
• curiosity
• taste
• humour
• auctioneer
• Simon de Pury

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: de PURY, Phillips de Pury & Company, Sotheby's, Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection

Places: The Twenty Two, London, Switzerland

More episodes of The Gstaad Guy Podcast

• Langosteria Founder & CEO: Enrico Buonocore & Strategy Manager: Alessandra Maestroni – Intuition, Understated Excellence, & Building Italy's Most Desired Table · June 10, 2026 · 1h 6m
• Bentley Motors Chairman & CEO: Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser – Heritage, Industrialised Craftsmanship, & the Most Complex Consumer Good in the World · June 3, 2026 · 1h 9m
• The Business of Fashion Founder & CEO: Imran Amed – Following a Feeling, Being a Pioneer, & Building the Voice of an Industry · May 27, 2026 · 1h 32m
• Classic Car Dealer, Collector & Writer: Simon Kidston – Classic Cars, Earned Authenticity, & Doing What You Love · May 20, 2026 · 1h 4m
• Hyle Consulting Founder: Riccardo Pozzoli – Building Brands, the Italian Dream, & Tradeoffs That Define a Life · May 13, 2026 · 1h 25m
• Comedian, Actor, & Impressionist: Matt Friend – Finding Your Voice, Reading the Room, & Why Laughter Is the Last Honest Thing · May 6, 2026 · 51 min