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Creative Minds

Creative Mind: Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte

The polymath is currently working on revitalizing of an archaeological site in western Egypt’s Siwa Oasis

By Lucy Rees
Wood-paneled room with a large window, an armchair, a pedestal display, and a painting on the wall.
An installation view of Nomad fair. Photo: Filippo Bamberghi. Courtesy of Nomad

Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte is an architect, gallerist, and fair director, but it is a passion for championing forward-thinking design that drives all his interests. “I would say that creative curating is what I do,” explains Bellavance-Lecompte from Milan, where he is the artistic director of the Fonderia Artistica Battaglia, a bronze foundry dating back more than a century. His many creative endeavors include the newly opened Athens location of Carwan Gallery, an influential contemporary design gallery he helped to launch ten years ago, originally in Beirut.

Person standing in front of a geometric tapestry, arms crossed, wearing a light gray blazer and brown pants.
Nicolas Bellavance-Lecompte. Photo: Filippo Bamberghi

Fair game: In 2017, he co-founded, with Giorgio Pace,Nomad, a roving design fair that brings various galleries together in a different historic building each season. It has already had editions in Monaco, St. Moritz, and Venice. “I did fairs in Basel, Miami, Dubai and New York many times so many times and I felt it became too repetitive. It wasn’t creative in terms of installation. I wanted to create a personal experience in a domestic context,” says Bellavance-Lecompte. “And I think travel opens your mind to new conversations.” 

 

Art installation in an industrial-style gallery with exposed brick walls, high ceiling, and natural light from large windows.
Works by Omer Arbel installed at Carwan Gallery in Athens. Photo: Giorgos Sfakianakis

Meeting of the Minds: “What I love about collaboration is that it gives you another perspective of the project. If you sit on your own from A to Z, you can become too introspective. Collaborating with from different cultures or professional experiences pushes you to another creative level.”

Elegant room with ornate chandelier, patterned walls, blue rug, modern sculptures, and contemporary chairs.
An installation view of Nomad St. Moritz. Photo: Filippo Bambergh. Courtesy of Nomad

Year at a Glance: “This is a very special moment in all of our lives. When predicting design trends, I have been thinking a lot about nature and humanity recently; the elemental materials. I think there will be a return to the basics this year.”

Ancient desert ruins with tall tower, surrounding stone walls, and distant mountain under a hazy sky.
Egypt’s Siwa Oasis where Bellavance Le-Compte is working on a new residency. Photo: Courtesy of Nicolas Bellavance Le-Compte

Up next: His latest project is the revitalization of an archaeological site in western Egypt’s Siwa Oasis, renovating the mud dwellings of an old Shali village to establish an exciting twice-yearly multidisciplinary residency program for writers, scientists, artists, and designers. 

 

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A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2021 Spring Issue under the headline “Creative Minds.” Subscribe to the magazine.