Didier Guillon

**Didier Guillon** (born 28 March 1953) is a French-Swiss art collector and artist. He is known for his numerous exhibitions both in Switzerland and around the world.

His art collection is diverse and includes works by various artists such as Leonardo Cimolin, Quentin Garel, Yves Levêque, Aristide Najean, Silvano Rubino, Tom Powell, Pavel Ruchka, Isao, Sophie Westerlind, Frederic Amat, Joan Gardy Artigas, and others.

## Biography

Didier Guillon was born on 28 March 1953 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. He comes from a family with a background in the arts, being a descendant of Charles Sedelmeyer, an art collector, and the great-grandson of French sculptor and art historian Stanislas Lami.

Since 2013, his works have been featured in exhibitions in Switzerland and other countries. In 2015, he established the Valmont Foundation, which is dedicated to "promoting art, beauty and uniqueness" by collecting and exhibiting contemporary art in Switzerland and abroad. He is married to Sophie, who is the CEO of the Valmont Group, and with whom he has three children: Capucine Guillon, Maxence Guillon and Valentine Guillon.

Guillon creates art using different materials like newspapers and cardboard. His artwork often features three main symbols: a mask, a gorilla, and a cage.

In 2015, the "Collection d'Artistes" exhibition took place, featuring nine works, each consisting of ten copies. In 2018, an art exhibition titled "The Elegant Symmetry of the Gorilla" was held in New York, showcasing 30 works designed and created by Guillon. The collection included sketches and collages, vinyl silhouettes, Murano glass reliefs, metal sculptures, and more.

In 2019, a group exhibition on musical themes titled "Hansel and Gretel" was organized at Palazzo Bonvicini in Venice. In 2020, Guillon had an exhibition titled "Venetian Love" at Palazzo Bonvicini in Venice. In 2021, he organized the "Janus" exhibition at Fondaco dei Tedeschi, dedicated to the concept of renewal, end, and beginning. The "Room of Tears", exhibited in the same year, depicts human issues in contemporary society.

In 2021, Guillon held an exhibition called "Tintswalo African Colours" at Casa degli Artisti in Milan. He designs his works and exhibitions mainly from recycled materials.

## Reception

Sabah Kaddouri, writing for the French edition of American business magazine _Forbes_, stated that Didier Guillon's work "compels people to open themselves up" and "reconnect with their humanity." French fashion magazine _L'Officiel_ has described Didier Guillon as a contemporary art representative, who collects and exhibits works of art.

## Exhibitions

|Year|Title|
| --- | --- |
|scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2"|<small>2024</small>|
|scope="rowgroup" rowspan="3"|<small>2023</small>|
|scope="rowgroup" rowspan="4"|<small>2022</small>|
|scope="rowgroup" rowspan="5"|<small>2021</small>|
|<small>2020</small>||
|scope="rowgroup" rowspan="3"|<small>2019</small>|
|scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2"|<small>2018</small>|
|<small>2017</small>||
|<small>2016</small>||
|scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2"|<small>2015</small>|

## Other websites

- Official website

## Infobox (artist)

- **name**: Didier Guillon
- **birth place**: Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
- **nationality**: Swiss, French
- **notable works**: _EGO_, _Peter Pan. La nécessité du rêve_, _Alice in Doomedland_, _Hansel & Gretel - White Traces in Search of Your Self_, _Beauty and the Beast_, _The Elegant Symmetry of the Gorilla_, _The Room of Tears_, _Janus_, _Tell me the Truth_, _Tintswalo African Colors_, _Ivo in Tanzania_, _El Cuor No Se Vende_, _Collection d’Artistes_