Charles Saatchi
The family had to flee Iraq together with his brother Maurice and his parents, who were separatist Jews. Saatchi grew up in London as an immigrant child. He left school early and earned his living in various jobs until he discovered art and advertising. His passion for collecting began in 1968. The collector's first names were artists such as Andy Warhol, Carl Andre, Donald Judd and other minimalists. Together with his brother, Charles Saatchi founded the advertising agency "Saatchi & Saatchi" in the Soho district of London in 1970.
Charles took on the creative role while Maurice was responsible for the economic tasks. Charles Saatchi, however, managed to convey advertising messages in the simplest form. This concept gave the young agency a meteoric rise. "Saatchi & Saatchi" became internationally popular thanks to accurate and funny campaigns that brought the young entrepreneurs stardom. From 1978 onwards, numerous expansions followed through the acquisition of various competing agencies and communications consulting agencies.
In 1985 the brothers opened the Saatchi Private Museum in London. By the end of the 1980s, the group of companies had become one of the largest advertising groups in the world. In addition to numerous retail and luxury brands, the British Labor Party also relied on the talents of advertisers, which meant that Margaret Thatcher was also a customer and was able to win three election campaigns with the slogan "Labour isn't working". During this time, Charles Saatchi acquired around 3,000 works by young artists, which he promoted and marketed under the label "YBA" Young British Artists.
In 1989, an attempt to set up a management consultancy together failed. In 1993, Charles Saatchi withdrew from the advertising industry, which from then on was only managed by his brother. After financial problems in the mid-1990s, the Saatschi brothers gradually sold large shares of the company, down to 1 percent of the shares. In 1995, after selling the company, Maurice Saatschi founded the "New Saatchi Agency". From then on, Charles concentrated on the international art trade.
The media-shy collector made a name for himself by buying up entire openings and champagne receptions with over a thousand guests at which he himself was not present. In 2003, Charles Saatchi opened the "Saatchi Gallery" not far from the "Tate Modern" in the former London City Parliament on the Thames, which attracted worldwide attention and is now one of the largest private collections in the world. The Saatchi Gallery had to leave its building in October 2005. The art collector's rental agreement with the Japanese owners of the house next to Westminster Bridge has been terminated by a court in London.
Shortly after the gallery opened, Saatchi and his gallery director Nigel Hurst began, without permission, to display art in parts of the property for which they had not paid rent. Saatchi had already announced in September 2005 that he would be moving his gallery to a former barracks in London's Chelsea district. Charles Saatchi is married to celebrity chef Nigella Lawson for the third time and lives in London.
Charles took on the creative role while Maurice was responsible for the economic tasks. Charles Saatchi, however, managed to convey advertising messages in the simplest form. This concept gave the young agency a meteoric rise. "Saatchi & Saatchi" became internationally popular thanks to accurate and funny campaigns that brought the young entrepreneurs stardom. From 1978 onwards, numerous expansions followed through the acquisition of various competing agencies and communications consulting agencies.
In 1985 the brothers opened the Saatchi Private Museum in London. By the end of the 1980s, the group of companies had become one of the largest advertising groups in the world. In addition to numerous retail and luxury brands, the British Labor Party also relied on the talents of advertisers, which meant that Margaret Thatcher was also a customer and was able to win three election campaigns with the slogan "Labour isn't working". During this time, Charles Saatchi acquired around 3,000 works by young artists, which he promoted and marketed under the label "YBA" Young British Artists.
In 1989, an attempt to set up a management consultancy together failed. In 1993, Charles Saatchi withdrew from the advertising industry, which from then on was only managed by his brother. After financial problems in the mid-1990s, the Saatschi brothers gradually sold large shares of the company, down to 1 percent of the shares. In 1995, after selling the company, Maurice Saatschi founded the "New Saatchi Agency". From then on, Charles concentrated on the international art trade.
The media-shy collector made a name for himself by buying up entire openings and champagne receptions with over a thousand guests at which he himself was not present. In 2003, Charles Saatchi opened the "Saatchi Gallery" not far from the "Tate Modern" in the former London City Parliament on the Thames, which attracted worldwide attention and is now one of the largest private collections in the world. The Saatchi Gallery had to leave its building in October 2005. The art collector's rental agreement with the Japanese owners of the house next to Westminster Bridge has been terminated by a court in London.
Shortly after the gallery opened, Saatchi and his gallery director Nigel Hurst began, without permission, to display art in parts of the property for which they had not paid rent. Saatchi had already announced in September 2005 that he would be moving his gallery to a former barracks in London's Chelsea district. Charles Saatchi is married to celebrity chef Nigella Lawson for the third time and lives in London.