In this exclusive interview with Tatler, beauty mogul and co-founder of Matrix Essentials, Sydell Miller talks about her venture into art collecting and why she's auctioning off some of her Palm Beach estate collection at Christie's
It might seem an unlikely combination, but for Sydell Miller, beauty and art go hand-in-hand. The beauty mogul is the co-founder of Matrix Essentials, the largest manufacturer of professional hair and beauty products in the US. But besides building her beauty empire, Miller, who is now retired, is also a known philanthropist and art collector.
Miller is once again putting up her legendary art and furniture collection for auction. Christie's is offering a US$30 million collection from Miller's Peter Marino-designed estate in Palm Beach during its 20th and 21st Century Week from May 11–14 for the paintings and sculptures while another dedicated auction on June 10, titled La Revêrie: The Collection of Sydell Miller is for the 18th-century French furniture pieces. The beauty queenpin sold the estate for US$105 million in 2019 to move to a new luxury condominium tower nearby.
Her collection boasts pieces from artists such as Joan Miró, Henry Moore and Joan Mitchell. Ahead of the upcoming auction, Miller tells Tatler about her venture into art collecting, philanthropy and why choosing her favourite art piece is almost impossible.
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Can you tell us how you got into art collecting?
From a young age, I loved going to museums, galleries and art shows with my parents and later with my husband and my family. I loved the beauty of the objects I got to see, both decorative furniture and objects of art. Later, I was fortunate to be able to collect wonderful pieces which I fell in love with. Throughout my career, my aim was always to promote individual expression and creativity, helping the salons and their customers achieve their full potential and self-worth. For me, living with beauty enriched my soul.
In choosing the art pieces that you collect, do you for a particular style or artist that you look for?
I collect pieces I love. Each piece I collect speaks to me in a language of art and design and always excited me when I saw them for the first time. Even today these pieces still make my heart flutter with joy. I never collected from just one period in time or style. Always collected things that I connected to through their beauty. I believe important design and art is eternal and stands the test of time.
Why did you decide to auction off items from your estate?
My grandchildren are grown up so I decided to move to an apartment (also in Palm Beach), and I don’t need all of the facilities of the house.
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