Yves Saint Laurent, the final collection

A comprehensive brand program and global exhibition tour for this remarkable single-owner collection, transforming a private cultural legacy into a historic auction at the Grand Palais with record-breaking commercial results.

This landmark single-owner collection including 733 works required a comprehensive global marketing campaign and exhibition strategy. Touring exhibitions in London, New York, Brussels, and a grand finale in Paris were curated as regionally relevant chapters, with object selections precisely informed by local culture. Evocative environments contextualized the objects, leveraging the collectors’ cultural capital to drive high emotional engagement and desirability, while maintaining brand consistency across international venues. Culminating in a historic series of three auctions at the Grand Palais, this integrated approach generated €373.9 million –tripling the collection’s high estimate. This commercial success secured foundational funding for the Pierre Bergé & Yves Saint Laurent Foundation in addition to AIDS research initiatives. The exhibitions engaged over 30,000 visitors, and were further inscribed in culture through the documentary L’Amour Fou.