Baron Guy Ullens de Schooten, the Belgian art collector and philanthropist who co-founded Beijing's Ullens Center for Contemporary Art (UCCA) in 2007 with his wife Myriam, died on 19 April at age 90. Ullens began collecting Chinese contemporary art in the 1980s and 1990s, amassing a renowned collection of around 1,500 works by artists including Huang Yong Ping, Qiu Zhijie, and Cao Fei. UCCA opened in Beijing's 798 art district with an exhibition on the 1985 New Wave movement, becoming one of China's earliest private institutions and a major force in defining the country's contemporary art scene. In 2017, the Ullenses transferred UCCA to a group of Chinese patrons, and it has since expanded to multiple locations.
Ullens's death marks the loss of a pivotal figure who helped bring Chinese contemporary art to global prominence. His founding of UCCA provided a crucial platform for Chinese artists at a time when the country's art world was still emerging, and the institution continues to influence the field. His legacy is also tied to the tragic murder of his wife Myriam in 2023, which cast a shadow over their philanthropic work. The article underscores how one collector's vision can shape an entire art ecosystem, from nurturing artists to building institutions that outlast their founders.