You have a home in Paris; describe
your perfect Parisian day.
My life in Paris is truly magical, having
a home in the 7th Arrondissement
on the Quai Voltaire, looking out at
the remarkable Louvre Museum and
being a short block from the doors
of the Musée d’Orsay—a true art
lover’s paradise. But of all my rich arts
experiences in Paris, perhaps the most
perfect day is when I have the privilege
of bringing a group to the Palace of
Versailles on a Monday, when it is
closed to its 5,000 daily visitors. We
have the historic palace all to ourselves
in the charming company of its chief
decorative arts curator.
You’ve traveled extensively; where are
your favorite places to visit?
In planning unique European travel
programs, principally throughout
France, I have been enchanted by
the Loire Valley and its rich tapestry
of historic châteaux, while hearing
owners speak of fascinating family
histories and beloved collections. I
am currently preparing a program to
Berlin, a city which is experiencing an
explosive artistic Renaissance, reuniting
collections separated by the war and
creating an international oasis of art
and architecture, both classical and
contemporary. I am especially moved
by the powerful architecture of Daniel
Libeskind’s Jewish Museum.
What is it about French culture that
appeals to you?
I find that French DNA is filled with a
passion for all things beautiful—from
the way food is presented on the plate
to crafting elegant furniture, fashion,
and accessories—with a deep reverence
for combining the classical with
modernity.
What’s your favorite thing to do in
Chicago?
To create an original event which
brings cultural institutions together in
partnership. A recent favorite was the
fashion history symposium celebrating
Chicago Shakespeare’s
Sunday in the
Park with George
and the Art Institute’s
exhibition
Fashion, Impressionism, and
Modernity
. It was thrilling to place the
actors in period costume in front of
Seurat’s
La Grande Jatte
, as if they had
just emerged from the painting, while
the curator, the play’s director, and the
costume designer engaged in exciting
conversation about the painting and
the production.
Which LUMA exhibition have you
most enjoyed?
I must say it was the 2009 exhibition
that I helped bring to LUMA,
celebrating Paris and Chicago
through the photographic lens of
Jean-Christoph Ballot. Ballot manages
to capture architectural parallels
between these two great cities, as well
as correspondences in their respective
museum transformations.
You’ve served on so many committees
in Chicago. What drives your
philanthropic spirit?
The opportunity to combine cultural
programming with fundraising—when
the richness of the programming
providing a compelling motivation
for support. A true celebration of the
human spirit—both in the creation of
the art and the support for it.
What do you love about LUMA?
That as a Jesuit-based institution,
LUMA embraces all forms of cultural
artistic expression, allowing art to
illuminate the spirits of its diverse
audience.
LUMA Spotlight
Gayle Tilles
30
Gayle Tilles has served on the LUMA
Board of Advisors since 2011. Gayle
was instrumental in bringing the 2009
exhibition:
Paris-Chicago: The Photography
of Jean-Christoph Ballot
to LUMA in
collaboration with French Cultural Services
and the Alliance Française de Chicago.
She is the founding director of the annual
French Decorative Arts Symposium of
the Alliance Française de Chicago, along
with ten international travel programs
showcasing the French decorative arts. She
is also a member of Chicago Shakespeare’s
Board of Trustees and the Committee of
European Decorative Arts at the
Art Institute of Chicago.
Gayle was awarded the Chevalier of the
Order of Arts and Letters by the French
Minister of Culture in 2007 in recognition
of her many years of cultural programming
and related fundraising in support of
French-American cultural exchange.
