ICON Program

Each year, Signatures Art Fair—dedicated to modern and contemporary art in limited editions—will pay tribute, through its “ICON” program, to a figure who has contributed to the recognition and influence of the multiple in art. A booth in the heart of the fair, along with a talk and written texts, will shed light on this individual’s career and convey their commitment to new audiences.

For its inaugural edition, Signatures Art Fair wishes to pay tribute to Pierre Cornette de Saint Cyr (1939–2023). If the word “panache” were to have a human embodiment, this flamboyant auctioneer would undoubtedly be one of its most prominent figures. As early as the 1970s, in the staid world of Drouot, he stood out for his style, his outspoken manner, and his boldness. He championed contemporary art and helped bring recognition to art forms that were still rarely seen in auction houses, notably photography and comic books. As early as 1974, his name also appeared among the auctioneers for sales of prints and modern paintings at Drouot. This openness found its continuation in the auction house he founded, where prints, multiples, and limited editions hold a place of their own.

His commitment broadens perspectives and expands the circle of art lovers. He invites people to discover, appreciate, and collect art without being intimidated by the conventions of the art world. This desire to bring artworks closer to the public resonates with the ambition of Signatures Art Fair: to provide access to a wide variety of artistic forms through limited editions and to enable more people to start collecting.

Prints, photographs, sculptures, objects, and produced furniture all offer different paths to the artists and their worlds. The multiple holds this promise: an original work can reach multiple collectors, circulate more widely, and find a place in more lives.

Paying tribute to Pierre Cornette de Saint Cyr means celebrating a spirit of discovery, an open-minded perspective, and an infectious passion for art. It also means passing on this enthusiasm to a new generation of art lovers and collectors. Today, it is Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr that carries on his legacy and gives it an international reach.