Emmanuel Leprince plays a major role in St Barth’s art scene. In just a few years, he has created and developed the Artists of St Barth association, which he skillfully manages, to the great satisfaction of artists and visitors. Here are a few of his secrets.
Emmanuel arrived in St Barths in 2015 and has been dedicated his time to his greatest skill and passion: helping talents to rise and show their work. If until then he has been working in technology, he quickly realized that issues are similar in the art field.
He started his career in the support of high-tech SMEs, both in France and in Europe, with an engineering degree from Centrale Paris and a master’s degree in technology products marketing from the ESCP Business school in Paris,
With time, he realized that he needed something else. He joined some friends in St Barths in 2015 and decided to stay, seduced like many others by this charming island.
He started to meet artists and discovered a situation similar to the one he had previously experienced: talent, potential, but difficulties to move further. With his entrepreneurial skills, being methodical and determined in what he undertakes, and on the other hand having a bohemian soul and artist mind, along with good relationship skills, Emmanuel had all the competence needed for his project to succeed: creating an association for the artists of St Bartsh. His goal is twofold: creating art events and helping artists find clients. He brings together artists sharing St. Barths as an inspiration, who are either regular visitors or inhabitants of the island.
If St Barths is a land with many types of arts, photography, sculpture, and painting are the disciplines he likes to focus on.
Emmanuel’s sharp eyes are particularly trained to the balance and harmony of forms, whether for art, design, or decoration, since he has visited Japan several times. He quite naturally likes to advise and assist artists with their creations. With his sharp knowledge of the art market in St Barths and the expectations of his clients, his advice is quite valuable for those who want to break into this very specific market.
“Artists may need assistance in making choices, focusing on an axis, an angle, while taking into account the client’s needs and expectations, as they generally own villas they wish to decorate with the work of local artists.
With the support of the Collectivity and the Tourism Committee, and under the leadership of its presidents, renowned artists Fabienne Miot and Antoine Verglas, the association took off: it now brings together more than 50 artists in the art shows created by the association. They have become major events in St. Barths: Art Parties, exhibitions in hotels and, since 2019, the annual Art Weeks where, for a week, a selection of artists exhibit in different places on the island.
To date, there has been more than 25 Art Parties, 4 Art Weeks, and many other pop-up exhibitions.
Emmanuel is convinced that art contributes to the development of tourism on the island: “Art brings an additional string to his bow. Art and encounters with artists create an emotional experience for visitors to remember..
