The reputed art collector Philippe Cohen has left Paris for Tel Aviv, where he will represent the auction house Artcurial.

“It is a real experience and challenge to be changing profession and to join the art market,” Cohen said in a statement published by Artcurial. “Having the perspective of someone who has been collecting for 25 years, I am looking forward to promoting the values of the auction house Artcurial, with whom I share a taste in culture and a passion for art.”

“Artcurial is really enthusiastic about the development of its international network,” said Artcurial vice-chairman, Fabien Naudan, in a statement. “I am convinced that [Philippe] will make significant contributions to the auction house’s standing in Israel and beyond.”

News of Cohen’s departure came shortly after Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited European Jews to move to the country. Netanyahu made the announcement in response to recent anti-Semitic attacks in Europe, such as the killings in the Parisian Kosher supermarket a day after the Charlie Hebdo massacre, and the shootings in a synagogue in Copenhagen (see 12 Killed at Magazine Previously Attacked for Satirical Cartoons and Who is Swedish Cartoonist Lars Vilks, Targeted by Jihadists in Copenhagen Shooting?).

According to Le Figaro, however, Cohen had made up his mind well before these events, and has been deeply involved in the artistic scene of Israel for many years.

The former dentist started his contemporary art collection in the 1990s, and it includes works by Pierre Huyghe (see Is Pierre Huyghe the World’s Most Opaque Popular Artist? Ben Davis Sizes Up His LACMA Show), Paul McCarthy (see Paul McCarthy Avenges His Butt Plug Fiasco), Loris Gréaud (see Is Loris Gréaud an Angry Chauvinist or an Art World Sociopath? Or Both?), and Danh Vō (see Danh Vō Revisits The Exorcist at Marian Goodman London).