Michel Zlotowski (1940–2026) – A Life Devoted to Art, Discovery and the Avant-Garde

The founder of Galerie Zlotowski in Paris has passed away at the age of 86, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in the art world and nearly three decades dedicated to championing modern masters and rediscovering overlooked artistic voices. The Parisian art world has lost one of its most respected figures. Michel Zlotowski, founder of the renowned Galerie Zlotowski in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, passed away peacefully during the night of October 30 to 31, 2026, at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, following complications related to Parkinson’s disease. He was 86. A passionate collector turned art dealer, Zlotowski built a gallery distinguished by its intellectual curiosity, artistic integrity and deeply personal approach to the art market. His story was one of reinvention, shaped by a lifelong fascination with modern art and an unwavering commitment to the artists he believed in.

From Fashion to Fine Art – An Unexpected Journey

Born in Paris in 1940 to a family of Polish Jewish immigrants, Michel Zlotowski initially followed a path far removed from the galleries of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Alongside his father, Berek Zlotowski, he worked as director of Limitex, a knitwear company founded in 1966 that became particularly successful during the 1970s with its colourful patterned sweaters for women. Yet art had already become an essential part of his life. For years, he had been collecting works by pre-Impressionist and Cubist artists, gradually developing the discerning eye and deep knowledge that would define his future career. When the French textile industry faced a major crisis during the 1990s, Zlotowski seized the opportunity to pursue a long-held ambition. In 1998, at the age of 58, he opened Galerie Zlotowski at 20 rue de Seine, in the heart of Paris’s historic art district. His inaugural exhibition was devoted to Albert Gleizes, establishing from the outset a clear artistic direction rooted in Cubism and the European avant-garde.

A Gallery That Helped Rediscover Modern Masters

Under Michel Zlotowski’s direction, the gallery quickly established itself as an important destination for collectors and enthusiasts of twentieth-century art.

Its programme embraced Cubism and abstract avant-garde movements through carefully researched exhibitions dedicated to artists including Charles Dufresne, Henri Hayden, Léopold Survage, Georges Valmier and Kurt Schwitters. The gallery subsequently expanded its scope to include significant post-war figures such as Jean Dubuffet and Simon Hantaï.

One of Zlotowski’s most notable contributions was his involvement in the renewed appreciation of Le Corbusier’s paintings. Working alongside Éric Mouchet, who joined the gallery in the early 2000s, he helped bring greater attention to the architect’s lesser-known identity as a painter. Le Corbusier would become one of the gallery’s defining artists, celebrated through numerous exhibitions and accompanying publications. Sandrine Lesage joined the gallery in 2001 and remains its deputy director. In 2015, Michel’s son Yves joined the family enterprise, bringing a new chapter to its development. Together, father and son continued to shape an ambitious exhibition programme, presenting the work of Sonia Delaunay, François Morellet and Stéphane Mandelbaum, among others.

Throughout these years, Galerie Zlotowski maintained a distinctive identity, placing artistic substance, scholarship and discovery above passing trends.

A Human Approach to the Art World

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Michel Zlotowski will be remembered for the particular way he inhabited his gallery.

He loved welcoming collectors, discovering new works, preparing exhibitions and experiencing the energy of international art fairs. His gallery was not simply a commercial space but a place of exchange, conversation and genuine enthusiasm. From his position inside the gallery, he would observe passers-by through the two windows overlooking rue de Seine, hoping to welcome curious visitors inside. Those who entered might find themselves invited into his office, where he would eagerly share his latest discoveries. Despite his success, Zlotowski deliberately kept the gallery on a human scale. He approached the art world with a combination of intellectual rigour, dry humour, scepticism and quiet generosity. His sharp wit and capacity for self-deprecation helped him navigate the uncertainties of the profession, while his integrity earned him the lasting respect of collectors, artists and colleagues.

For him, becoming a gallerist had represented something far more meaningful than a career change. It was the beginning of a second life, one that allowed him to devote himself entirely to a passion he had cultivated for decades.

In his final years, Parkinson’s disease gradually prevented him from participating in the activities he cherished most. Since 2025, he had found it increasingly difficult to attend fairs, oversee installations or maintain the close contact with collectors that had always brought him such pleasure.

He passed away surrounded by family and friends. Michel Zlotowski leaves behind more than a respected Parisian gallery. His legacy lives in the artists he championed, the works he helped bring back into the spotlight and the relationships he nurtured throughout nearly thirty years in the art world. At a time when the art market is increasingly shaped by scale and spectacle, his career stands as a reminder of something essential: the enduring value of curiosity, conviction and the deeply human pleasure of sharing art.

WHAT WE ADORE Magazine extends its sincere condolences to the Zlotowski family and the entire team at Galerie Zlotowski.

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