Story: Collecting

Les and Milly Paris art collection (1st of 2)

Les and Milly Paris art collection

Wellington couple Les and Milly Paris began collecting modernist New Zealand art not long after their marriage in 1963. Over time, they built one of the most important private art collections of its kind in the country. Many pieces were hung on the walls of their modest suburban home, while others were loaned for public exhibitions or placed in storage. They eventually lifted up the family home to build a gallery on the ground floor.

Les Paris died in 2000 and Milly Paris (pictured) continued to add to the collection. In 2012, she reluctantly sold around 200 pieces because she was moving to Sydney, Australia, to be closer to her son.

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Photograph by Chris Skelton

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How to cite this page:

Richard Wolfe, 'Collecting - 20th-century collecting', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/37324/les-and-milly-paris-art-collection (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Richard Wolfe, published 5 Sep 2013