Sotheby’s Talks | Custodians of Taste: Pauline Karpidas and the Women who Shape the Art World

Intelligence Squared

Arts, News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 16 September 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On today’s episode, an episode from our friends at Sotheby's exploring the remarkable collecting journey of Pauline Karpidas, one of the most influential art patrons of the past fifty years. Ahead of Sotheby’s landmark sale of her extraordinary Surrealist collection this September, collector Tiquio Acentio, curator Jasper Sharp, and Sotheby’s Worldwide Chairman of Impressionist and Modern Art Helena Newman will join broadcaster and art historian Kate Bryan to reflect on Karpidas’ unique eye, her friendships with artists, and the broader role of women as cultural custodians. From Peggy Guggenheim to Dominique de Menil and beyond, women collectors have long shaped the direction of modern and contemporary art. What drives them? How do personal connections influence collecting? And how does a home become a curated world? With insights into the upcoming auction and the stories behind the works, this talk will offer a portrait of a life in art – and celebrate those who collect with connoisseurship, curiosity and conviction. This podcast was recorded at Sotheby’s London in September 2025. And, to step further into the world of Sotheby’s, you can visit any of our galleries around the world; they’re open to the public. For more information, visit sothebys.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to Intelligence Squared where Great Minds meet. I'm head of programming,
0:05.0	Connor Boyle. Coming up on the podcast, we've got something from our friends at Sotheby's
0:10.0	that we think you'll enjoy. It's an episode of Sotheby's Talks, the podcast series that takes listeners
0:16.0	inside the world of Sotheby's. In this episode, a panel discussion explores the remarkable collecting
0:22.1	journey of Pauline Carpidus, one of the most influential art patrons of the past 50 years,
0:27.5	ahead of Sotheby's landmark sale of her extraordinary collection. To listen to more episodes of
0:32.4	Sotheby's Talks, featuring the likes of Marina Abramovich, Mary McCartney, Tracy Eman and Julianne Moore.
0:39.2	Just search Sotheby's Talks wherever you get your podcasts.
0:45.0	For almost three centuries, Sotheby's has been the place to discover the greatest stories of creativity.
0:51.7	We've been the temporary custodians of some of the world's finest treasures,
0:55.8	which you can see on display in our galleries on any given day. I'm James Haldane, executive editor
1:02.4	of Sotheby's magazine. In this episode, which was originally recorded as a live event,
1:08.1	we were joined by Tiki Atencio-Dermersion, a Venezuelan-born and Monaco-based
1:13.0	Plector, author and cultural philanthropist, British curator and art historian Jasper Sharpe,
1:19.3	and Chairman of Sotheby's Europe and Chairman of Impressionist and Modern Art worldwide,
1:24.4	Helena Newman. We explored the remarkable collection journey of Pauline Carpidas, one of the most influential
1:30.8	art patrons of the past 50 years, reflecting on her unique eye, friendships with artists,
1:37.3	and the broader role of women as cultural custodians.
1:41.0	Here's host Kate Bryan, arts podcaster and chief art director for Soho House with more.
1:47.0	Hello everybody. Thank you for being here. It's wonderful to see you all. My name's Kate
1:52.6	Brian. I'm an art curator and broadcaster. And I'm your host for this very special evening.
1:58.6	We've got a fascinating talk this evening, custodians of taste,
	...

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