In 2016, works by GRATALOUP were presented at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Strasbourg (MAMCS) as part of The Collector’s Eye, a major exhibition dedicated to several outstanding private collections. Among them was the collection assembled by Jean and Christina Mairet, widely regarded as one of France’s most significant private collections of contemporary art.

Entitled To Be and To Be Seen, the section devoted to the Mairet Collection brought together a selection of works acquired over several decades through the collectors’ passion, curiosity, and independent vision. Rather than presenting an official history of contemporary art, the exhibition revealed the personal journey of collectors whose choices were guided by conviction, sensitivity, and a commitment to artistic discovery.

GRATALOUP’s presence within this remarkable ensemble reflects the important place his work occupies in major private collections. For many years, Jean and Christina Mairet have championed artists who developed distinctive and highly personal visual languages beyond the dictates of artistic fashion. Through paintings rich in material, light, symbolism, and references to the natural world, GRATALOUP explores the profound relationships between humanity, nature, and the cosmos, making his work a natural fit within the collectors’ vision.

The exhibition also highlighted the essential role played by collectors in the preservation, promotion, and transmission of contemporary art. By bringing together works usually kept in private hands, The Collector’s Eye offered visitors a rare opportunity to discover exceptional artworks and to understand how individual collectors contribute to shaping the cultural landscape of their time.

GRATALOUP’s inclusion in this exhibition further confirmed the recognition of his work within one of France’s most respected private collections. Presented in one of the country’s leading museums of modern and contemporary art, his paintings formed part of a broader reflection on the dialogue between artists, collectors, and institutions, and on the enduring importance of collecting as an act of cultural commitment.