Collecting Cultures: Collecting as a Dialogue
Collecting is not simply an act of acquisition, but a form of cultural production shaped by selection, interpretation, and display. In this sense, it becomes a dialogue—between collector and artist, private intention and public meaning, and across time. This panel invites us to consider collecting as an ongoing exchange rather than a static accumulation.
Join Rafaël Biosse Duplan, Isabelle von Ribbentrop, Dr. Madeleine Haddon & Victoria Law for this fascinating talk where we are invited to think of collecting as dialogue between people, ideas, and time.
Courtesy Victoria Law, Lucei De Yavington, 2023
Rafaël Biosse Duplan began his career in finance, building a multi-billion-dollar asset management firm before its sale in 2021. After three decades focused on risk and capital, he now invests in people and institutions. His work spans philanthropy and social enterprise, from EMpower — which has directed over $50 million to support youth at risk globally — to Conciliaprêt, helping families regain financial stability. Today, he brings his experience in governance, fundraising and strategy to the cultural sector, contributing to organisations including Rambert, the Victoria and Albert Museum, The Photographers’ Gallery, and the Maison Européenne de la Photographie. His work focuses on building strong financial foundations that enable artistic ambition. He believes that sound governance and creative risk-taking are not opposites, but conditions for each other — and that culture, like markets, rewards those willing to think in decades rather than seasons.
Isabelle von Ribbentrop is the Founder of Upon Request and Creative Advisor to the Prix Pictet, working at the intersection of art, business and philanthropy. She plays an active role across leading cultural institutions, serving as a Trustee of the Contemporary Art Society, a member of the Development Board of the National Gallery, and of the Photography Acquisition Group at the Victoria and Albert Museum. As a regular moderator and speaker, she brings together artists, collectors and institutions to explore the role of culture in shaping society and business. She is also the Founder of the Elisabeth von Senden Foundation.
Dr. Madeleine Haddon is Senior Curator of V&A East, the newest campus of the Victoria &
Albert Museum. Dr. Haddon leads on curatorial projects across V&A East Storehouse and
V&A East Museum. She serves on boards and committees for Harvard Art Museums, Photo
London, Public Art Trust of India, and CORA Foundation. Dr. Haddon has previously held
curatorial positions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Frick Collection, Yale University
Art Gallery, and Princeton University Art Museum. She completed her BA at Yale University
and PhD at Princeton University.
Victoria Law is a London-based collector, patron, and curator who has been supporting artists in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa since 2008. She has collaborated with Art Dubai, Third Line gallery, Isabelle van den Eynde gallery, Goodman gallery, Orange Babies, FNB Joburg Art Fair, Karen Tronel and Marie Jose gallery amongst others. In 2020, she established Victoria Law Projects as an independent and nomadic project space. Through curated exhibitions, pop-ups, collaborations and artist talks, Victoria Law Projects is dedicated to introducing audiences to emerging and established contemporary artists by bridging cross border communities and networks. Victoria Law Projects finds connecting threads, or interesting points of difference, to bring together artists across national, thematic, or material divides. The aim is to provide a supportive and enriching platform for artists, helping them to not only connect with each other, but also to connect to new audiences.
Ticket Price: £10 with
Please note, talk tickets are available for purchase and require a valid Photo London Day Ticket or Weekend Pass for the corresponding day.