Sarah Andelman recently made headlines as one of the purchasers of the infamous Maurizio Cattelan banana at Art Basel Miami Beach in December, but she’s hardly a newcomer to the art and fashion worlds.
Originally an art student at the École du Louvre who went on to intern at the iconic Purple magazine, Sarah gained attention for the uniquely eclectic taste she cultivated in the famed Parisian concept store, Colette. She opened the store with her mother in 1997, and through diverse collaborations, reimagined retail and set a blueprint for the luxury retail experience today.
The store may have closed in 2017, but Sarah has continued her role as a tastemaker through her consulting and curating agency, Just An Idea, which works with sports and beauty brands, among other companies. Sarah herself is also a frequent fixture in the art world, and a discerning collector who owns impressive pieces by Daniel Arsham and KAWS.
We caught up with the pioneering businesswoman to hear about everything from her favorite new artist to the shoes she prefers to wear while gallery-hopping, and her current picks of artworks available for purchase right now through Artnet Galleries.
Sarah’s Favorite Things
Dinner party menu: Sushi and saké.
Post-opening spot in Chelsea: My hotel room.
New artist: Adam Parker Smith.
Place to grocery shop: Union Square Farmers Market.
Way to pass the time on long flights: Catching up on movies.
Objectively best ice cream flavor: Anything from Morgenstern’s.
Travel partner: Family.
Emoji: ?
Bucket-list destination: The Hill of the Buddha by Tadao Ando in Japan.
Way to spend a Friday night: Academy screeners and take-out.
Shoes to wear while gallery/museum hopping: Nike x sacai.
Meal you ate in the last city you visited: Burger and a slice of pie at The Apple Pan in Los Angeles.
Person to vent to: My husband.
Party favor: Candy.
Way to unwind after a long trip: To not try to unwind…
Sarah’s Gallery Picks
I would say my personal style is very… personal! There’s no rules. I really don’t spend too much time thinking about it. I like t-shirts with fun graphics, skirts, and cool sneakers. I’m always curious about different things, I love to discover and to share, and I’m as passionate about a new art show as a new restaurant with great food!
— Sarah Andelman
Ormond Gigli
New York City (Models in Windows) (1960)
Courtesy of MC Masters & Contemporary.
Lucio Fontana
Concetto Spaziale, Attese (1960)
Courtesy of Robilant & Voena.
Niki de Saint Phalle
Remember (1969)
Courtesy of Galerie Mitterrand.
Franco Fontana
Los Angeles (2001)
Courtesy of Cristinerose Contemporary Art.
Olafur Eliasson
Your reversed Berlin sphere (2016)
Courtesy of Richard Levy Gallery.
Takashi Murakami
We Are The Square Jocular Clan (Rainbow) (4) (2018)
Courtesy of Lougher Contemporary.
Julie Cockburn
It’s Complicated 5 (2017)
Courtesy of Flowers Gallery.
Catherine Opie
Match Fire #5 (The Modernist) (2016)
Courtesy of Lehmann Maupin.