Chef Daniel Humm, the renowned culinary figure behind Eleven Madison Park, has guest-curated Sotheby's Contemporary Curated auction series, selecting artworks with the same rhythmic and intentional approach he uses in menu creation. In an interview with CULTURED, Humm describes how a transformative encounter with Claude Monet's Water Lilies at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris inspired his curatorial philosophy, emphasizing stillness, contemplation, and dialogue between works. His selections include pieces by Roni Horn, Alex Katz, Keith Haring, Sarah Crowner, and Jean Dubuffet, reflecting personal friendships and a desire to create an immersive, sensory experience akin to a multi-course meal.
This collaboration matters because it highlights the growing intersection between the culinary and visual art worlds, with high-profile chefs increasingly acting as cultural tastemakers. Humm's involvement brings mainstream attention to Sotheby's auction series, potentially attracting new collectors from the food and lifestyle sectors. It also underscores how contemporary curation is expanding beyond traditional art experts, embracing interdisciplinary perspectives that reframe how audiences engage with artworks—blurring boundaries between dining, design, and fine art.