ALEXANDER VENET

Collector Relations & Secondary Art Market Sales and Acquisitions

SMITH contemporary has partnered with Alexander Venet, the son of noted French Conceptual Artist Bernar Venet and Art Dealer Ella Venet as Assistant Director and the to head Collector Relations & Secondary Art Market Sales and Acquisitions Alex’s journey in the art world began as an art handler for some of the most iconic and pioneering galleries of the late 20th century, including the legendary Holly Solomon Gallery and the incomparable Leo Castelli Gallery. These formative experiences immersed him in the inner workings of the contemporary art scene and allowed him to engage directly with seminal works and influential artists. By the late 1990s, his passion for art had evolved into serious collecting. He began acquiring works by key figures of postwar and contemporary art, including Donald Judd, Ellsworth Kelly, Andy Warhol, Sol LeWitt, Keith Haring, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, among many others. This personal engagement with collecting naturally transitioned into art dealing, as he began sourcing, advising, and placing works for a growing network of collectors, institutions, and private clients. Today, his work continues to be driven by a deep respect for artistic innovation and a commitment to fostering meaningful connections between art and audience.