UCCA Beijing Co-Founder Shot Dead in Belgium
Myriam Ullens de Schooten, a collector of Chinese art who, along with her husband Baron Guy Ullens de Schooten, founded UCCA in Beijing, was shot dead outside the apartment she shared with her husband in Belgium on the night of Wednesday, Mar 29. She was 70.
Police have taken the baroness’ stepson, the 50-year-old Nicholas Ullens de Schooten, in for questioning. He is a prime suspect in the murder case due to an alleged dispute over an inheritance issue, according to USA Artnews.
The baroness and her husband have a “universal” collection of Chinese art which is primarily focused on contemporary art from the country. The couple opened the Ullens Center for Contemporary art in 798 Arts District in 2007, after which it became a popular fixture of the area, showcasing major contemporary artists from both China and abroad.
After a period of financial uncertainty, the Ullens sold UCCA in 2017 to a group of Chinese investors. The Center was renamed UCCA Center for Contemporary Art and although it was sold off, a report on the sale by South China Morning Post stated that the deal and subsequent restructuring allowed for UCCA to become a non-profit, enabling it to raise funds more easily.
UCCA has continued to be a bastion of the arts scene in the capital, having hosted the city’s first exhibition on “crypto” art as well as exhibitions ranging from the works of Andy Warhol to those of the infamous "Art Basel Banana" artist Maurizio Cattelan.
Myriam and Guy continued to be involved in the management of UCCA, and Myriam also spent her time managing her fashion brand Maison Ullens, which she founded in 2011. She is survived by her husband and their four children.
Images: Unsplash, Instagram
