This is the second time Sarah Quan comes to the microphone of Everything Happens For A Reason.
The first time was in Milan, for a special episode with 4 guests, whom I interviewed live during design week.
This time, I wanted to dedicate an entire episode to it, so I took the train, heading towards Zurich.
I've gone back to my roots in a way, as my maternal grandmother was Swiss.
Zurich is a city that embraces nature, thanks to the lake and the surrounding hills.
Originally from Morrens in the canton of Vaud, near Lausanne, Sarah has been living and working in Zurich for several years, with her partner and associate, Fortunat Lüthi Alias Fortii.
Together, they founded Villa Nomad — a curation, production, and communications agency that builds bridges between brands and art & design.
Sarah also tells us how this agency was born from an event they created – the idea for their business came afterwards, in fact.
We also spoke:
specificities of the Swiss market
🇨🇭 of the division of roles with Fortii, and the balance between professional and personal life, all the more so when you live and work together
and the challenge of always having to create something new, something different
Sarah also shares her 3 tips for good networking as her network is her main strength.
I met Emmanuelle Roule Thanks to Charlotte Brunet, LA Marseillaise is indispensable. The Charlotte Brunet Agency She offers the curation and organization of sensitive experiences, and in particular artistic projects. She thus introduced me to gems, including a workshop visit with Emmanuelle Roule.
Born in Saint-Etienne, now based in Marseille after living and working in Paris and abroad, Emmanuelle Roule is a designer, art director and ceramist.
A graduate of ENSAMAA Olivier de Serres, Emmanuelle started out in graphic design before discovering ceramics almost by chance.
Whether she talks to us about bees, geology or design, Emmanuelle offers a rich and technical analysis without being hermetic. Quite the opposite.
Because everything she undertakes is guided by a great curiosity and a desire to break down the barriers between all disciplines.
Immediate embarkation for a journey to the center of the Earth.
Granddaughter of the painter François Bret, who founded the’Luminy School of Fine Arts and Architecture in Marseille,
And daughter of Marie-Christine and Roger Pailhas, famous for the eponymous gallery in Marseille and also founder of Art dealers, which he liked to describe as «the smallest art fair in the world»,
Julie Pailhas has always been immersed in art — and entrepreneurship.
She started alongsideOlivier Saillard at the Fashion Museum in Marseille, before doing an internship in the press department of Dries Van Noten in Paris.
From opportunity to recommendation, Julie then worked as a fashion stylist and artistic director for numerous iconic magazines for 25 years.
And then lockdown called her back to her home city, Marseille, where she created in 2021 Inanimate Objects, her flat-gallery.
Stylist – curator – gallery owner, Julie is renowned for her discerning eye, her flair and a certain radicalism.
It was the first time I'd met her, and I couldn't leave!
Together, we naturally talked about her journey, and how she managed to find her place within such a family; ;
And, of course, the design and organisation of its exhibitions, whether held on-site or off-site; ;
From its business model; ;
And how and why it differs from a traditional gallery.
With the desire to showcase emerging or established artists, Julie Pailhas has created, in her own home, a unique space that reflects her personality and brings people together.
Portrait of Julie and her cat Momo in her flat-gallery in Marseille © Florian Touzet
