Gustave Fayet collectionneur

Exhibition at the Fondation Vuitton, Paris, 9 October 2026 – 8 March 2027

A passionate collector, Gustave Fayet (1865–1925) was also an artist, a prolific designer and a tireless entrepreneur in the field of the decorative arts. Behind this little-known name lies one of the great champions of the avant-garde of his time, who played an active role in fostering the emergence of modern art in all its forms and assembled a collection of over 750 major works of modern art.

Gustave Fayet was among the first to collect Van Gogh, to exhibit Picasso, and to establish a ‘Gauguin museum’ in his own home, right in the heart of Paris, housing nearly 200 works, which was a magnet for the artists and collectors of the time. A friend and fervent admirer of Redon, he offered him the opportunity to create a large-scale set design – which remained a secret – at his abbey in Fontfroide, in the south of France.

Bringing together over 300 works and documents, this exhibition catalogue reveals Fayet’s exceptional collection for the first time. It invites readers to rediscover a collection of forgotten masterpieces, dispersed nearly a century ago, as well as the extraordinary career of a great champion of early 20th-century modernity. 

This volume is complemented by the book Gustave Fayet créateur.