Simon de Pury is one of the art world’s leading figures, renowned for his deep and long-standing knowledge of the global marketplace and his legendary performance at the auction podium. He generates excitement in the saleroom with a display of great wit and can conduct sales in four languages –... Read more
Simon de Pury is one of the art world’s leading figures, renowned for his deep and long-standing knowledge of the global marketplace and his legendary performance at the auction podium. He generates excitement in the saleroom with a display of great wit and can conduct sales in four languages – English, French, German and Italian.
Born in Basel in 1951, Simon de Pury studied at The Academy of Fine Arts in Tokyo in the 1970s with an eye towards becoming a fine artist. After working at the Bern auctioneers, Kornfeld & Klipstein and subsequently studying at Sotheby’s Institute, Simon de Pury joined Sotheby’s working London, Geneva and Monte Carlo. From 1979 through 1986, Simon de Pury curated the celebrated Thyssen-Bornemisza collection in Lugano. In 1986, Simon de Pury returned to Sotheby’s first as Chairman of Sotheby’s Switzerland and then as Chairman of Sotheby’s Europe and the company’s Principal Auctioneer. Throughout the 1990s, he conducted all of Sotheby’s major sales in Europe which included the Thurn und Taxis sale in Geneva and Regensburg, the Margrave sales in Baden-Baden and from 1994, all the major Impressionist sales in New York.
In 1997, Simon de Pury co-founded with Daniella Luxembourg, de Pury & Luxembourg Art, a Geneva-based art advisory firm. In 2001, this firm merged with Phillips Auctioneers to become Phillips, de Pury and Luxembourg which specialized in the sale of Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary art, Jewellery, Photography, and 20th and 21st Century Decorative Arts.
In 2004, Simon de Pury focused the selling activity of the auction house to four main collecting categories featuring works from the 20-21st centuries: contemporary art, design, photographs and jewellery. The new company re-located to the Meatpacking district in Chelsea which at the time was developing to be the international art community that it is today. In addition to auctions, Phillips de Pury & Company handles private treaty sales of Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary works of art, builds private collections for a select group of clients and hosts a regular schedule of selling exhibitions for artists, designers and photographers.
Phillips de Pury & Company has become the world leader in the sale of contemporary art by emerging talent and been the auction house above all others to successfully introduce a number of artists to the secondary market. Simon de Pury’s unique and enterprising approach to the sale of important works of art has made Phillips de Pury & Company the most dynamic art company for today’s market.
De Pury is perhaps best known to the general public for his recurring role on the Bravo network reality television series Work of Art: The Next Great Artist. He appears in every episode of the show as a mentor to all of the artists in the competition, offering advice, encouragement and sometimes very blunt criticism.
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You can book Simon De Pury through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Simon's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Simon De Pury's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Simon tailored to your event.
Simon De Pury speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Simon to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Simon De Pury for events worldwide, subject to Simon's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Simon De Pury is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Simon can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Simon De Pury on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Simon can offer.
Simon De Pury delivers keynotes in German. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Simon De Pury's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of Simon's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Simon De Pury can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of Simon's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Simon De Pury is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Simon De Pury, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Simon's current availability for your dates.