Art Collector:
Shannon Bennett
Shannon Bennett is infamous for his craftsmanship as both chef and businessman. As such, it should be of little surprise that his approach to collecting art carries the same rigour and tenacity with which he steers his empire of world-class restaurants. He is curious, demanding and trusts his judgment – a combination of attributes that has enabled him to develop a strong network within the art world and a dynamic collection that he spreads between his restaurants and home.
In 2000, having returned from several years in Europe, Melbourne-born Shannon Bennett opened the first incarnation of Vue de Monde in a terrace house in Carlton. So began his lively exploration of Australian culture as defined by food, and subsequently, a hearty interest in art and artists.
In conversation, Bennett is both confident and curious about the topic of discussion. He’s waiting for a flight and at one stage pauses to check-in while still managing to flit smoothly between recalling the joy of noticing the image of a half-eaten lamb chop in a work by Stieg Persson and his emphatic opinion about the importance of having art where it can be appreciated. His collection includes works by artists to whom he feels personally connected or indebted (such as Tony Albert and Jeffrey Smart), through to artists that he admires and champions for their social and conceptual significance (including Gordon Bennett and Joseph Kosuth).
Over the years, Bennett has cooked for and befriended a number of Melbourne’s art world elite and such friendships have shaped... Subscribe to read this article in full
