Visite Privée: Art Gallery Visit Series
March 14th, 2026—Mehdi Khalvati @ Atelier Mehdi Khalvati
Columbia alumni were welcomed to the atelier of Mehdi Khalvati, followed by a guided tour through Le Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen by Ministry of Culture attaché Marco Marchetti.
ABOUT THE ARTIST/GUIDE
Mehdi Khalvati (b. 1970, Tehran) is a French-Iranian sculptor. He works with clay, creating pieces in terracotta, plaster and bronze. Trained with traditional sculpting and casting techniques and working from live models, he perpetuates a long tradition of French sculpture. His work, centered on the human figure and the portrait, is the perpetual search for beauty, inseparable for him from melancholy. He sculpts with instinctive gestures, leaving fingerprints and tool prints, stripping to the essentials, where a part of himself always appears, as in a mirror.
Marco Marchetti completed his studies at the University of Padua, in Italy, and the École nationale d’administration in Paris, Marco began his career at UNESCO before joining the French Ministry of Culture.
Senior public sector executive with over 30 years of experience in cultural policy, heritage governance, and international cultural cooperation within the French Ministry of Culture. Currently serving as Delegate for Overseas Affairs in the Department for Cultural Transmission, Territories and Cultural Democracy, overseeing a €1.5M support fund for Overseas artists and cultures and coordinating national heritage labeling initiatives.
He has consistently nurtured his passion for the world of antiques, regularly attending flea markets, antiques fairs, and collectors’ shows.
ABOUT THE VISIT
We began our visit at the atelier of Mehdi Khalvati, nestled in the heart of the Saint-Ouen Flea Market. Surrounded by finished pieces and works in progress, the artist personally guided us through his creative process—from live posing and clay modeling to mold-making and casting—offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at his practice.
The second part of the program took us into the labyrinth of the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen for a guided tour led by Marco Marchetti. Together we will explore some of the market’s key sections, with a focus on collectible treasures spanning art, furniture, jewelry, pop culture, and more—uncovering the inner workings of one of Paris’ most iconic and seemingly familiar institutions.
MEHDI KHALVATI
En Liberté, 2026.
Bronze.
48 x 14 x 17 cm
ABOUT THE SERIES
Each visit includes a guided tour led by an artist, curator, or gallerist, followed by an engaging discussion at a Paris art gallery or artist atelier. It provides a unique opportunity for alumni, artists and galleries to connect, fostering meaningful relationships around the world of contemporary art.
Posted by Victor Schaub Wong ’91 GSAPP