Through @theonlypaulineloeb on Instagram, Pauline Loeb shares the contemporary art world and the art market as she experiences them — with curiosity, emotion, and a certain lightness. In her videos, she brings people along to the art fairs she visits, she talks about the works that move her, and she tries to open a door to a universe that often feels closed.
How did your creative path begin? Tell us about your life story.
I was born into it, so to speak. My father was an auctioneer and an expert in Old Master art, so I had an excellent education from a very young age. To rebel a little, I started studying law, but after just two weeks I dropped out and moved to art history. I wasn’t ready to admit it to myself yet, but art had fascinated me since I was a child. We didn’t run through museums with my father, but he deeply transmitted to my brothers, my sister and me a sense of beauty.
What did you feel you learned during your work at Galerie Kugel?
After school and a few internships here and there, I ended up at Galerie Kugel. What an extraordinary stroke of luck.
First of all, I discovered a truly wonderful family. And on a professional level, in the world of Old Master art, it’s hard to find better.
The seven years I spent at Galerie Kugel were absolutely amazing: I learned so much, and every day you’re surrounded by masterpieces, museum-quality objects, and the world’s greatest collectors who come to visit the gallery. A truly exceptional school.
What makes art so exceptional and stand out? What unique qualities define it, and which are your preferences?
I’m not an art theorist, so my answer might sound a little naïve—or even disappointing—but my approach to art is very instinctive.
For me, what makes art exceptional is the immediate emotion it creates.
Of course, some works—both ancient and contemporary—require knowledge to be fully understood, but in the end, what matters to me is the emotion.
Given that you visit art fairs across the world, what are the main differences you find between artists from different parts of the world? Do you feel their artwork is impacted by their cultural and ethnic background?
Absolutely. Every artist carries within them their history, their culture, their environment and their visual references.
I’m afraid my comments might sound a bit caricatural, but let me try: perhaps a strong introspection and precision in some Asian artists, a more visceral relationship to materials among many African artists, a conceptual narrative tradition in Europe, or works deeply connected to social issues in North America.
But all of this must be nuanced by the fact that cultural influences have never been so fluid. With the constant flow of information and digital technologies, artists borrow, mix, and reshape influences all the time.
What about social media? How did the idea of presnting an art fair or an exhibition in the amazing way you do first begin?
Do you enjoy the feedback and the experience of being well known?
Notoriety is a big word! I’d say I have a bit of recognition within the art world — so when I walk into a fair, I’m often recognised. Recently, at a playground in Paris while my children were on the swings, a man suddenly called out “Hey Art Lovers!” It was surprising, but also quite sweet.
But I’m definitely not seeking that.
Which piece of artwork from your collection do you have the deepest emotional connection with, and why?
Portraits — absolutely.
I don’t know if you noticed, but I have a prosthetic in my left eye. I lost my eye at the age of three due to a retinal cancer. So my relationship to the human face may not be quite the same as for most people.
I probably developed, unconsciously, a very special interest in the faces of others, especially in art… so definitely portraits.
Or, paradoxically, portraits from behind — I have several in my collection.
Based in Paris and London, in what way do these cities influence you?
I only lived in London for a few years, but I think it’s safe to say I am definitively Parisian — with all the qualities and flaws that come with it!
Dressed in high fashion, you look effortlessly elegant as you move through iconic works of art at fairs and exhibitions. How much do you enjoy this, and what is your purpose?
I looove it! There is absolutely no purpose — just pure pleasure.
About the “effortlessly elegant” aspect: that is the best-kept secret of Parisian women.
And on a more personal note, after my childhood illness, I found in fashion an incredible way to reinvent the image I had of myself. Getting dressed is both a joy… and an armour.
What is your opinion on digital art? Does it provoke the same emotions for you as looking at a physical artwork in an art fair?
A vast question.
Yes — if the artwork speaks to me, the emotion is there. The real underlying question is: what are the limits of art?
Is an AI-generated piece still a work of art?
The boundaries of art have always been debated. Jean Tinguely was already raising a fundamental question: what is art when a machine participates in the creation?
AI is simply continuing that question, with new technologies.
What do you feel about the art scene in Greece today? Do you have any artwork from Greek artists in your collection?
I’m ashamed to admit I don’t know the Greek art scene very well.
I haven’t yet had the chance to be invited to cover a fair in Greece, but I would absolutely love to.
If I had to choose a Greek artist for my collection — even though I usually love figurative art — it would be a work by Bia Davou. I have a deep love for her work, precisely because it pushes me out of my comfort zone.
Which is your best ever art fair or art exhibition?
Recently, I went to Istanbul for the first time to visit Contemporary Istanbul.
I discovered a young artistic scene that is incredibly creative, full of energy — probably because the political context generates a form of creativity that can even become a mode of resistance.
What would you consider the main highlights of your career?
Recently, I had the opportunity to film a video inside the Grand Palais in Paris, almost completely empty.
It felt like being a child locked overnight inside a toy store. I had so much fun.
What goals are you pursuing now?
Picking up my children from school.
A strange answer, maybe — but one of my biggest motivations in building a personal project is being able to shape my schedule so I can truly enjoy time with them.
Have you ever tried to create a piece of art?
Let’s move to the next question!
I am an absolute disaster in that field. My father passed on a real talent for drawing to my brothers and sister… but not to me.
Anything new planned for 2026?
I would love to talk more about fashion, and show that it is an extraordinary form of creation and expression.
But it’s not simple — and fashion on social media is unfortunately often diluted by a very commercial aspect.
So… I need to keep thinking about it.
When you enter a room, what draws your attention first?
You can imagine the answer: whatever is hanging on the walls.
I must admit my place is running out of space — which can be a bit overwhelming for those who love minimalist interiors — but I love being surrounded by paintings and sculptures.
The designer and the artist you adore
I could name many, but since we talked about Old Master art earlier, I’ll mention two young French artists I adore because they create a bridge between classical art and contemporary creation: Guillaume Bresson and Jean Boyer.
And a third one, whom I love just as much for his mastery of the human body: Dhewadi Hadjab.
An exhibition you will never forget
Very recently, at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris: the exhibition dedicated to Pierre-Yves Trémois, with extraordinary drawings and engravings.
Favourite guilty pleasure?
Obviously: buying clothes.
What’s on your reading list?
I’m quite a compulsive reader. I read a lot of women’s narratives.
The last one I read was Zouleikha Opens Her Eyes by Guzel Yakhina — an extremely talented Russian author.
In another life you would have been…
A cat. I love taking naps.
And luckily, my cat’s greatest passion is sleeping curled up against me.
What is authentic to you?
I’m not sure.
In art, a work feels sincere and authentic to me when the artist has stripped themselves bare — when they dare to put into images what is stirring inside them, consciously or unconsciously.
It’s a violent process, but it’s what gives a work its strength.
Assistant Editor Stefanos Gkoutas
