Renowned Art Connoisseur Sylvio Perlstein Passes Away
Sylvio Perlstein, a visionary art collector and patron, passed away on August 6, leaving behind a historically rich and influential collection that spans the breadth of 20th-century avant-garde and modern art.
Born in Belgium in the 1930s, Perlstein moved to Brazil in 1939 to escape the Nazis. His life took a turn when he settled in Rio de Janeiro, where he developed a keen interest in art as a teenager.
Perlstein's collection is a testament to his deep engagement with 20th-century art movements. It features key artists from Dada, Surrealism, and American and European modern art, including Barnett Newman, Daniel Arsham, Max Ernst, Man Ray, Dora Maar, René Magritte, Jean Tinguely, Niki de Saint Phalle, Frantisek Kupka, M.F. Husain, Jean Arp, and Paul Delvaux.
One of the most unique aspects of Perlstein's collection is his focus on works that feature women's hair (or hair look-alikes), by artists such as Tunga, Pierre Boucher, Harry Callahan, Magritte, and Maar. A notable piece in this category is Maar's Publicité pour Pétrole Hahn (1935), which Lubow described as "memorably strange" and in line with Perlstein's devotion to Surrealism.
Perlstein's collection also includes works from American minimalism and post-minimalism, and Land art. His interest in neon light is evident in works by Bruce Nauman, Mario Merz, Dan Flavin, Joseph Kosuth, Keith Sonnier, Martial Raysse, and Jason Rhoades.
Early works from artists such as Cy Twombly, Roy Lichtenstein, and Brice Marden from the mid-60s are also part of his collection. Many of Nauman's works in Perlstein's collection incorporate puns and wordplay, like the 1970 sculpture None Sing Neon Sign.
In the 1970s, Perlstein made frequent trips to New York to cut and polish diamonds for the jeweler Harry Winston. It was during this time that he met many artists at Max's Kansas City. Later, he joined his family's diamond business in Antwerp, where he eventually took over the diamond-cutting firm.
Perlstein acquired several works from Man Ray in 1969, including "rayographs" and iconic images. His home was described as a contemporary version of Ali Baba's cave by cultural critic Arthur Lubow.
In 2018, Hauser & Wirth exhibited 380 pieces from Perlstein's collection in Chelsea and Hong Kong for the exhibition "The Sylvio Perlstein Collection - A Luta Continua." The exhibition was featured in the New York Times and demonstrated the breadth and impact of his collecting vision.
Hauser & Wirth confirmed Perlstein's death through an Instagram post, marking the end of an era in the art world. His collection, which he meticulously curated over the years, will continue to inspire and influence future generations of art lovers and collectors.
- Sylvio Perlstein, a collector of art who showed devotion to Surrealism, passed away in 2021, leaving behind a comprehensive collection heavily influenced by modern and contemporary art.
- Perlstein's collection is a testament to his fascination with various art movements, featuring notable artists like Barnett Newman, Daniel Arsham, and Dora Maar.
- Unique to Perlstein's collection is his focus on artworks that depict women's hair, such as pieces by Tunga, Pierre Boucher, and Dora Maar.
- The collection also highlights works from American minimalism and post-minimalism, with notable pieces by artists like Bruce Nauman and Dan Flavin.
- Perlstein's interest in neon light is evident in works by artists such as Mario Merz, Joseph Kosuth, and Martial Raysse.
- In the 1970s, Perlstein, a diamond cutter for the jeweler Harry Winston, met several artists at Max's Kansas City, including Man Ray, whose works he acquired in 1969.
- In 2018, the gallery Hauser & Wirth exhibited 380 pieces from Perlstein's collection in Chelsea and Hong Kong, showcasing the depth and influence of his collection on the art world.
