Where Art Meets Philanthropy: A Conversation with Isaac Sultan Cohen
Isaac Sultan Cohen’s impressive collection of contemporary art reflects someone who has both been in the collecting business for many years, as well as that of a man who has made art part of his day-to-day life. Isaac Sultan Cohen, who has been collecting contemporary masters for decades, believes that contemporary art isn’t just an aesthetic; he sees it as a means of encouraging dialogue, mirroring both the society in which he lives alongside the society which, through his philanthropic endeavours, he would like to create.
“Although I am a contemporary art man myself, of course the great masters have their place as well,” begins Sultan Cohen. “The world though of the likes of Van Gough and Monet just feel very very distant to me. My connection to art comes from how tangible it is. Not only in the sense that it can be displayed right here on my walls, but also because the contemporary art which I collect speaks to our now — our struggles, our hopes, our contradictions. For me, artists the likes of Basquiat and Warhol resonate closest to home. They were provocateurs, dreamers, and commentators on society, none of which are contradictory by the way in my opinion.”
The passion which Isaac Sultan Cohen developed for contemporary art began early in his life, when he inherited an art collection from his late uncle. It would be this collection that he would build on and turn into the vast, impressive collection which he has today. Sultan Cohen believes that his choice of art, was and remains deeply impacted by his Venezuelan heritage. Although he now resides in Miami, a city brimming with contemporary art, his growing up in Venezuela, a country known for both artistic traditions and vast cultural diversity, led to him having an appreciation for the energy and dynamism of craftsmen like American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.
“Venezuela is of course a complicated place. If, however, we look beyond the headlines and the vast challenges which the country is facing, Venezuela is a vibrant, striking place,” Isaac Sultan Cohen explains. “The unique perspective that I see in Basquiat’s work embodies a similar sense of raw energy. Although Basquiat died so young, he managed to leave a lasting mark with the help of that energy. When I look at Warhol, another one of my favourites, well, he was the first person who was able to turn pop culture into fine art. If you haven’t been to Latin America, this might be difficult for you to understand, but in a way, modern Latin America has done the same thing in the way it has successfully blended the highbrow with the street level.”
Another of Isaac Sultan Cohen’s passions is philanthropy and when asked what intersection he sees between the two, he quickly replies, almost without thinking, “Art teaches you empathy. It isn’t possible to look at a piece you love and not feel something deeply emotional — anger, hope, pain, joy. Philanthropy is quite similar. Giving is, at the end of the day, about seeing the world through someone else’s eyes and asking, what are their needs, how can I make a difference?”
Following up on this connection between art and philanthropy, Isaac Sultan Cohen believes that art and philanthropy also share a core fundamental truth: they demand vision alongside courage to act on this vision. “Sometimes I come up with a philanthropic project and people think I’m nuts! But if you want to make a difference, you need to think outside the box. The same goes for art. When Warhol was creating, nobody could appreciate his genius. Now we look back and realize how ahead of his time he really was”.
Isaac Sultan Cohen isn’t only a lover of contemporary art. His appreciation for fine art also extends to another passion: watch collecting. His collection is as diverse as his philanthropic initiatives, including everything from vintage classics to avant-garde pieces by independent watchmakers, which he primarily collects. “Watches for me, are just another way of celebrating craftsmanship and storytelling. Painting, similar to pictures, capture a specific moment in time; how one felt at exactly that moment. Their story. Watches do the same, but they also remind us of time’s value in a very direct way.”
When asked what he is more passionate about, art or watches, Isaac Sultan Cohen has a hard time choosing. “It’s like picking which of your kids is your favourite”, he laughs. “Whether it’s a painting or a watch or indeed, a philanthropic project, what drives me is connection. Each and every day, it might be something else. And that’s what gets me out of bed in the morning.”