Cultureshock Connects
Issue 3
Welcome to Cultureshock Connects, our monthly digest of innovative content created in partnership with some of the world’s leading cultural brands. Featured in this issue: Art Basel Qatar, Jeff Koons, Michael Govan, Fabien Vallérian, Sotheby’s International Realty, David Beckham, Genesis, Tom Sachs, Ursula magazine, Tim Marlow and more.
Michael Govan and Jeff Koons launch The Genesis Talks at LACMA
This April, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art will command global attention when it opens its much-anticipated David Geffen Galleries, the new Peter Zumthor-designed building that will house the museum’s permanent collection. December saw the launch of The Genesis Talks, a public programme with creative visionaries moderated by LACMA CEO and director Michael Govan, which started with renowned artist Jeff Koons. As part of our ongoing collaboration with global automotive brand Genesis, Cultureshock created the visual identity for the related communication, and is producing content ranging from social to video. Don’t miss the inaugural talk riffing on creativity, vision and collaboration.
The Best of Art Basel Qatar
The launch of Art Basel Qatar in early February created an extraordinary platform for artists, galleries, collectors and arts professionals to gather in Doha, the rapidly growing art destination on the Persian Gulf. More than 17,000 visitors came to the fair, where 87 galleries presented the work of 84 artists, half of whom hail from the MENASA region. Cultureshock’s Jane Morris selected 10 highlights that represent the revelatory mix of art at the fair, while our video crew captured the unique ambience of Art Basel’s first edition in the Middle East, attended by Her Excellency Sheikha al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani – look out for David Beckham’s cameo at the end of this film we made for Q+A.
Luxury Brands in Pursuit of Art Audiences
The greatest luxury brands understand the power of reaching sophisticated art audiences because of their importance in shaping taste and their willingness to pay premium prices for quality, creativity and aesthetic excellence. For more than two decades, Cultureshock has built strong relationships with Celine, Hermès, Bulgari, Chanel, Dior and other top luxury brands, and connected them to our clients, yielding revenue through advertising and partnerships. A case in point: we are proud to represent Ursula, the magazine of Hauser & Wirth, and recently brought Boucheron, the legendary high jewellery maison, into the very selective mix of advertisers featured in the print edition. The newest iteration of the brand’s “Icons” campaign graces the back cover of the Spring 2026 issue.
Art Thinking with Ruinart's Fabien Vallérian
No brand understands the power of reaching into the art world better than Maison Ruinart, the champagne of choice at the most prestigious art fairs in Europe, North America and Asia. Ruinart’s engagement with art is embedded in the brand’s DNA, manifested through collecting, commissioning, prizes and other activities. In episode 5 of Cultureshock’s Art Thinking podcast, hosted by Vadim Grigoryan, Fabien Vallérian, international director of arts and culture, discusses how his 300-year-old company is obsessed with contemporary art, sustainability and collaboration. Ruinart is one of many case studies presented in Grigoryan’s Art Thinking book, which took centre stage at the recent Art Business Conference in Paris and was featured in the Artnet article When Artists Meet Brands: Big Promise, Bigger Risks.
Strategic Storytelling from Sotheby’s International Realty
Sotheby’s International Realty is the dominant player in the luxury real estate field, in large part thanks to its ability to attract and retain the top agents around the world. One way it does so is through strategic storytelling across multiple platforms. As part of Cultureshock’s multifaceted partnership with the brand, we create an ongoing series of LinkedIn posts that tell the stories these agents are most interested in, such as a recent trend towards high-end multigenerational residences (an article that originally appeared in the Luxury Outlook™ report we produced earlier this year) and luxury design trends that help sell a high-end property. The result: ongoing engagement that binds more than 26,000 far-flung agents to the global brand.
Making Sense with Tom Sachs
From illegal welding jobs to big brand collaborations, the American artist Tom Sachs has been expanding the field of sculpture for 30 years. In this episode of Making Sense: Conversations on Creativity, Sachs joins Tim Marlow to dive into his daily pot-making, his Nasa projects and why an archive of incomplete works and dirty offcuts are his “most valuable materials”. Tom’s new book, Tom Sachs Guide, is on sale now.