How much is a masterpiece? For Christian Levett, collector and founder of FAMM (Femmes Artistes du Musée de Mougins), he quickly realised that the art market’s historic neglect of women artists meant that, in his words, “female art was a bargain.” In this conversation, Levett joins founder of SEEN, Carrie Scott, to explore his journey collecting antiquities to founding Europe’s first museum dedicated exclusively to women artists. Levett shares his experience of collecting a museum-quality body of work by female artists for the price of one male artist. 

Through the lens of FAMM, Carrie and Christian reflect on the long-standing erasure of women in the art world and the power of private collecting as an active intervention in the art historical narrative. Together, they’ll examine the limitations and opportunities of collecting as a form of cultural critique in pursuit of visibility, equity, and legacy-building. At a time when cultural consciousness is putting pressure on institutions to reckon with their pasts and evolve their futures, this timely and thought-provoking conversation will examine intersections of gender, power and patronage, asking what it takes to truly reshape the art world – and who gets to do it.

attention is given to the hurdles they encounter in the secondary market. Drawing on insights from My Art Broker’s Female Printmakers Report, this panel delves into the persistent gender disparities that affect the resale and valuation of works by leading female artists such as Bridget Riley, Helen Frankenthaler, Yayoi Kusama, Louise Bourgeois, and Tracey Emin.

Hosted by Market Editor Sheena Carrington, the conversation features insights from Jess Bromovsky (Sales Director at MyArtBroker), Carolin von Massenbach (Head of Prints & Multiples at Bonhams London) and Jacqueline Harvey (Founder and Director of Women in Art Fair). Together, they will explore how systemic biases have influenced the trajectories of women artists in the secondary market and discuss pathways toward greater equity.

Given the limited seating at gallery@oxo, the session will be filmed to reach a broader audience. Join us for this critical discussion on reshaping the art market landscape for women artists.

What does patronage look like when led by women, and for women? Matrons brings together Hall Rockefeller (Arts Writer and Founder of Less Than Half), Rachel Verghis (Collector and founder of MarGin Gin), and Virginia Damsta (Curator and Cultural Strategist) to explore new perspectives on access, representation, and responsibility within the art world. In a market where rising prices can make art feel out of reach, they will discuss how collecting, at any scale, remains a powerful way to engage with culture, build a collection, and drive change. As younger collectors emerge, the panel considers the evolving dynamics of power and tradition, and how a new generation is reshaping the role of the modern matron, a vital force in driving public impact through private support. From funding exhibitions to building collections with purpose, this conversation will dive into the motivations, strategies, and challenges behind being a modern matron of the arts, answering questions about what sustainable, feminist patronage looks like today and how investing in art is becoming a meaningful avenue for women to build cultural and financial legacy.

Arts commentator Carrie Scott moderates a discussion between Saudi Arabian collector and founder of BASMOCA, the world’s first virtual museum, Basma Al Sulaiman; groundbreaking gallerist, collector, patron and champion of Chinese contemporary art, Pearl Lam; and Saudi Arabian artist Manal AlDowayan, who represented her country at the Venice Biennale this year.

Join Melanie Gerlis, art market columnist and author of “Art as an investment?” (2014) and “The Art Fair Story” (2021) as she talks to Aparajita Jain, Executive Director of Nature Morte, about her vision for the gallery and the challenges experienced on the journey to establishing the space as India’s leading contemporary art gallery.

Curator and writer Gemma Rolls-Bentley, author of the groundbreaking book “Queer Art: From Canvas to Club”, and the Spaces Between, introduces living artwork Daniel Lismore and trans non-binary photographer Bex Wade

Caroline Lang, chair of Sotheby’s Switzerland discusses the ups and ups of her journey from front desk to the top, with arts writer and editor Arsalan Mohammed

“Tranquil Doodles” offers participants an opportunity to explore the therapeutic world of watercolours and repetitive doodle patterns, drawing inspiration from the garden. Through guided exercises and immersive activities, participants will delve into the meditative aspects of watercolour painting, allowing them to unleash their inner creativity while cultivating a profound sense of calm and relaxation.