Weekend Long Read: Guy Ullens, Collector Who Championed Chinese Contemporary Art, Dies at 90

Guy Ullens, a Belgian aristocrat, entrepreneur, and influential art collector, passed away on April 19 at the age of 90. His death was announced by the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA), the Beijing institution he co-founded with his second wife, Myriam Ullens, who herself died at 73 in 2023. UCCA credited Ullens as a pivotal international supporter in the evolution and global recognition of Chinese contemporary art, stating that his vision and generosity fundamentally shaped the internationalization of this artistic movement.[para. 1][para. 2]

Ullens and Myriam inaugurated the UCCA in Beijing’s 798 Art District in 2007, transforming former factory spaces into a cutting-edge, nonprofit institution that set new standards for contemporary art museums in China. UCCA quickly became renowned for showcasing works by leading Chinese artists as well as celebrated international figures, earning recognition as one of Asia’s most influential nonprofit art venues.[para. 3]

Born in San Francisco in 1935, Ullens was the son of a Belgian diplomat and served as the head of his family’s diverse business group for nearly four decades before his retirement in 2000. His interest in art began in the 1960s, focusing on avant-garde and emerging artists. Business trips to China during the 1980s inspired his collection of Chinese art, influenced by his diplomat father’s experiences and collectables from Beijing.[para. 4][para. 5][para. 6]

Introduced by art dealer Wu Erlu in 1987, Ullens connected with a generation of Chinese avant-garde artists who, at the time, worked outside formal systems and under difficult conditions. He recalled visiting the minimalist living and studio spaces of artists like Ai Xuan, which reflected the broader hardship many Chinese artists faced in the 1980s. Over the years, the Ullenses supported and collected works from soon-to-be-famous artists such as Zhang Xiaogang, Zeng Fanzhi, Huang Yong Ping, Xu Zhen, and Wang Jianwei. At its peak, their collection included around 2,000 pieces, many acquired at modest prices before their creators gained global renown.[para. 7][para. 8]

Recognizing the importance of their growing collection, the Ullenses established UCCA not to keep these works hidden in storage but to allow public access. They partially funded UCCA’s creation by selling their extensive Turner collection at Sotheby’s, constituting the largest sale of Turner works in over a century. The UCCA’s inaugural exhibition, 85 New Wave: The Birth of Chinese Contemporary Art, featured key works from major Chinese artists, marking a significant moment for the local art scene.[para. 9][para. 10][para. 11]

Ullens saw himself as a custodian of culture who believed in making art accessible to the public, particularly pieces he considered ‘national treasures’.[para. 12] However, his legacy was not without controversy. From 2009, Ullens sold major works from his collection, which sparked debate about his motivations—whether driven by passion or commerce—as some artworks achieved record-breaking prices at auction.[para. 13]

Speculation about the Ullenses’ departure from China intensified following the 2017 sale of UCCA to Chinese investors. Under the new ownership, UCCA expanded to three more locations, including Shanghai, with its mission shifting to bringing contemporary art to wider Chinese audiences.[para. 15][para. 16]

Beyond art, the Ullenses contributed philanthropically through the Guy & Myriam Ullens Foundation, supporting education in Nepal and cancer patients through the Mimi Foundation.[para. 17] Tragedy struck in 2023 when Myriam was fatally shot by Ullens’ son, Nicolas, in Belgium, reportedly due to a family financial dispute.[para. 18]

Ullens’ enduring legacy is his belief in art's power to inspire, connect cultures, and change lives—a vision reflected in the ongoing work and influence of the UCCA. [para. 19]