At Home with Art: A Collection Built on Relationships
Description
Bassam Freiha Art Foundation is pleased to present a special talk exploring the private collection of Fairouz and Jean-Paul Villain, currently on view at the Foundation. Built over decades, the collection reflects a vision of collecting that extends beyond ownership, rooted in openness, generosity, and a sustained engagement with artists and the wider cultural community.
Bringing together the collectors with their longtime friend and advisor, artist and gallerist Salwa Zeidan, this conversation offers insight into the relationships that have shaped the collection over time. Moderated by Dr. Michaela Watrelot, the talk draws on shared experiences to reflect on what it means to live with art, through personal stories, encounters, and a deep commitment to cultural exchange.
Salwa Zeidan
Salwa Zeidan is a Lebanese artist, sculptor, curator, and gallerist. Born in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, she relocated to the United Arab Emirates in the 1980s, where she continued developing her artistic practice. Alongside her work as a painter, she became actively involved in curating exhibitions across various venues. In 1994, she founded the Salwa Zeidan Gallery in Abu Dhabi, establishing a platform dedicated to contemporary art and fostering dialogue between regional and international artists.
Fairouz and Jean-Paul Villain
Jean-Paul and Fairouz Villain are collectors whose journey has been shaped by a continuous openness to discovery. Their approach to collecting has never followed a fixed path; rather, it has evolved organically, informed by their lived experiences, their environment and their sustained engagement with culture.
Prior to settling in Abu Dhabi, they formed a shared collection focused on 18th-century French furniture and 16th-century painting. Their move to the region marked a pivotal moment, prompting a gradual shift toward the Middle East, guided by Fairouz Villain’s cultural knowledge and a growing interest in the region’s artistic narratives.
The Villain Collection took its current direction approximately twenty years ago, with a focus on modern art from Syria and Lebanon, later complemented by early works from the local scene, including a seminal acquisition by Hassan Sharif. As the regional art landscape evolved, the collection expanded to embrace contemporary practices, reflecting a sustained curiosity for emerging artistic languages and critical perspectives.
Beyond collecting, Fairouz Villain has played an active role in Abu Dhabi’s cultural life. She was instrumental in introducing classical music to the city and was the founding force behind the Friends of the Louvre Abu Dhabi. In recognition of her sustained commitment to culture and the arts, she has been awarded the titles of Knight of the Legion of Honour and Knight of Arts and Letters. Jean-Paul Villain has likewise been recognised for his cultural engagement and contribution to the arts. He has been named an Officer of the Legion of Honour and an Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Together, Jean-Paul and Fairouz Villain are patrons of the Centre Pompidou for the Middle East region and remain actively engaged in supporting cultural institutions and artistic initiatives.
At the core of their practice is a belief in art as a space for exchange. Their home has long served as a place of encounter for artists, scholars and cultural practitioners, a spirit that continues to inform the Villain Collection as an evolving and open framework.
Dr. Michaela Watrelot
Dr. Michaela Watrelot is a curator, educator, and author with a PhD in History of Art from Charles University in Prague. At Bassam Freiha Art Foundation, she leads exhibition planning, education, and strategic partnerships. Her expertise spans 19th- and 20th-century art, public art commissions, and art market studies, and she is the author of Wilhelm von Bode and the American Art Market: The Rudolphe Kann Collection (Routledge, 2023).