Nicole Saikalis Bay, an architect and patron, divides her time between Milan, London, Beirut, and Paris, where she has built a triple-pronged artist support network: the Saikalis Bay Foundation, a Milan exhibition space called Circolo, and the nonprofit WeAre Projects. Her collection began as a private impulse to live with art, focusing on modern Italian masters like Enrico Castellani and Fausto Melotti, and has expanded to contemporary artists such as William Kentridge, Nari Ward, and Tacita Dean. This month, Circolo presents work by ten rising artists of Lebanese heritage, reflecting her commitment to supporting artists from regions in need.
This story matters because it illustrates a growing trend among collectors who move beyond private acquisition to become active cultural ecosystem builders. Saikalis Bay’s model—combining a foundation, exhibition space, and nonprofit across multiple cities—shows how collectors can directly support artists and foster cross-cultural dialogue. Her architectural background informs her approach, emphasizing materiality, space, and relational art, which resonates with contemporary debates about the role of collectors in sustaining the art world beyond market transactions.