Christian Levett, a prominent British art collector, founded the Mougins Museum of Classical Art in the South of France, driven by a lifelong fascination with historical artefacts since childhood. Initially captivated by coins and war medals, he later expanded into artworks and antiquities in his mid-twenties. Over a decade, Christian amassed 1,000 classically inspired pieces, leading to the creation of the museum in 2011 to house his growing collection. It uniquely combined Greek antiquities with modern and contemporary masters like Keith Haring and Grayson Perry.

In August 2023, the museum temporarily closed to reopen to the public on June 21 2024 as FAMM: Femmes Artistes du Musée de Mougins, Europe's first private museum dedicated solely to women artists. The new exhibit features works from renowned artists such as Joan Mitchell, Lee Krasner, Helen Frankenthaler, Grace Hartigan, Elaine de Kooning, Barbara Hepworth, Marlene Dumas, and more. We are thrilled to invite our members to enjoy cocktails and tour of the museum led by Christian before it opens to the public. Ahead of this exciting moment, our editorial team caught up with him to gain some exclusive insights into this new chapter of his collection!

The transformation of the Mougins Museum into FAMM, dedicated solely to women artists, marks a significant shift in focus. What inspired you to make this change, and what do you hope to achieve with this new direction?

Over the past 7 to 8 years, I've focused my art collection almost exclusively on female artists. Since March 2021, I've reorganised my palazzo in Florence for art tours, attracting various groups like museums, universities, and collectors. My loan program for female artworks has seen significant growth in the last 3 years. I co-curated a successful exhibition tour on global abstract expressionism (1940-1970) by female artists. Now, I've been invited by the AFA in the US to tour my abstract expressionist collection to 6 different US museums from late 2025 to late 2027. A book I published on my abstract expressionist female collection has influenced the direction of museums, like the one in Mougins, where my classical art collection was housed. This evolution has led to a more cohesive ecosystem around my new collection of over 500 works by female artists (bringing the entire collection to around 2,000 pieces), mostly oil paintings and some sculpture, with a minority of drawings and photographs.

The new FAMM museum highlights the works of women artists, including renowned figures like Joan Mitchell and Marlene Dumas. Can you share a bit about your process in choosing artworks for your museum collection and how you determine their significance in the collection?

Around 12 years ago, I shifted my focus to collecting modern and contemporary art, initially without preference for gender. Over time, I expanded my collection to include significant works by female artists like Joan Mitchell, Helen Frankenthaler, and Lee Krasner. The resurgence of interest in female abstract expressionists, sparked by exhibitions and books like "9th Street Women" by Mary Gabriel, inspired me to delve deeper into other modern periods like impressionism and surrealism.

My criteria for acquiring artworks remain stringent: exceptional condition, historical significance, composition, colour, and provenance suitable for museum exhibitions. Each piece, whether by a renowned artist like Joan Mitchell or a lesser-known figure, undergoes the same rigorous analysis.

Ultimately, the most crucial aspect of acquiring any artwork is personal connection—falling in love with it. This emotional resonance guides my acquisitions more than market trends or investment potential. 

With the reopening of FAMM, what kind of educational programs or initiatives do you plan to introduce to engage visitors and foster a deeper appreciation for women artists and their contributions to art?

Museums, whether private or public, are about offering visitors an engaging and memorable experience. My classical art museum, operating for 12 years, aimed to take visitors on a journey of discovery. By showcasing ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian antiquities alongside modern artworks with classical themes, we illustrated how the ancient world influenced artists from the Baroque period to contemporary times.

This approach allowed visitors to piece together connections and trace the evolution of art over centuries. When we closed after 12 years, we had overwhelmingly positive feedback from visitors, with 500 reviews on TripAdvisor.

Now, with the Female Art Museum of Mougins (FAMM), we're continuing this tradition of offering a unique and exciting experience. FAMM will be the world's first museum dedicated to showcasing the history of female art from impressionism to contemporary, featuring the most significant female artists of each era in detail.

While we're the second museum dedicated to female art globally, our emphasis on unique displays and composition sets us apart. This approach is crucial in attracting visitors and providing them with a fantastic, educational, and enjoyable experience, making FAMM a must-visit destination in Mougins.

Are there any emerging female artists that you have your eye on?

I'm actively acquiring artworks from female artists across all levels of the market. Recently, I added artists like Stacey Gillian Abe and Kansas Smeaton to my collection, both offering unique perspectives and beautiful paintings at a grassroots level around £10,000. Additionally, I'm drawn to higher-level artists like Elizabeth Columba and Sarah Ball, whose stunning work has been showcased in museums, despite being relatively unknown.

The museum is no stranger to transformation, how do you envisage FAMM evolving in the future along with your taste and interests?

The museum will exclusively feature works from my personal collection, showcasing about 100 pieces at a time. This allows for regular rotations and loans, keeping the displays fresh. We plan to kickstart an exhibitions program by late 2025 in a cultural space within the village, adding another layer of variety to our offerings.

Our goal is to open the museum in June and establish a rhythm through the summer before launching the exhibitions program more fully from autumn onwards. If the museum proves popular, I envision managing it alongside my children indefinitely, with the intention of eventually passing it on.

How would you spend one day of culture in the South of France (apart from visiting FAMM!)?

Opposite the museum, my restaurant L'Amandier offers a great dining experience (before or after visiting FAMM). For other dining options in the South of France, I recommend La Colombe d'Or in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. In the summer, you can enjoy sitting outside on the terrace. It's extremely famous for the incredible art collection that is on its dining room walls. While there for lunch, you can take a look at spectacular works by artists like Alexander Korda, Picasso, Léger, and Georges Braque. If you're dining at La Colombe d'Or, be sure to visit the Fondation Maeght and the Foundation CAB in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, both just a 2-minute drive or a 10-minute walk from the restaurant.