For more than 15 years, Michèle Sandoz has been renowned as a special force in the international art world. Now, she has taken over the helm at the Grisebach Switzerland auction house in Zurich. What are her plans?

Her career, marked by a consistent return to her roots, is reflected in her current favorite song from Odyssey: «Zippin' up my boots. Goin' back to my roots...», a piece that Sandoz listens to almost daily. This melody symbolically underscores a career spanning more than 25 years deeply rooted in the global art market from Europe to Asia to Africa.

Connecting Art and Humanitarian Causes

In her role as the Global Head of VIP Relations at Art Basel, where she spent nearly a decade building international customer strategy and overseeing VIP customer care worldwide, Michèle Sandoz made significant contributions. Before this role, she served as the General Manager of the Zurich office of Christie's auction house for seven years.

Her recent initiative, the Art Prize for Humanity (in French only), initiated in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva, showcases her commitment to linking art with humanitarian causes.

Quiet Existence Opposite Tiffany


Max Beckmann, «Self-Portrait Yellow-Pink,» 1943 (© Grisebach GmbH)

With great anticipation for her new challenge at Grisebach, Sandoz plans to propel the auction house in Zurich forward, alongside the young leadership duo of Daniel von Schacky (in German only) and Diandra Donecker, who took over from Bernd Schultz, the founder of the German auction house, in early 2023.

Despite impressive successes, such as the sale of a Max Beckmann (in German only) piece for €23 million in the record year 2022 and five other works for over a million euros in 2023, Grisebach at Bahnhofstrasse 14 in Zurich, directly across from Tiffany, maintains a «still» relatively quiet existence.

The Next Step Under Sandoz's leadership, this is set to change. The art expert brings her extensive VIP network and experiences from previous roles to make Grisebach more widely known in Switzerland and internationally. «I am a passionate matchmaker and have always followed Grisebach's work with great sympathy and curiosity. Perhaps not everyone knows that the company is one of the leading auction houses in Germany,» says Sandoz.

A Place of Encounter and Exchange


Lyonel Feininger, «Clouds over the Sea I,» 1923, (© Grisebach GmbH, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2024)

The goal is to transform the auction house in Zurich into a kind of «House of Grisebach,» serving as a meeting point for art enthusiasts, art influencers, and collectors, making art not only a commodity but an experience. Through the organization of art talks, collaborations with national and international galleries, and direct encounters with artists, Sandoz aims to revitalize the auction house in Zurich and establish it as a central place for encounters and exchanges.

She also includes her direct neighborhood on Bahnhofstrasse in her strategy and is already planning possible activities.

On the Threshold of a New Era

Grisebach Switzerland stands on the threshold of a new era, with Sandoz at the helm, ready to leverage her extensive contacts and expertise to further develop the auction house. Her vision includes a stronger focus on contemporary art, international presence, coupled with a commitment to inclusion and diversity.

This reflects her lifelong dedication to art and her belief that art can build bridges and act as a multiplier.

  • The next summer auctions on May 30 and 31, 2024, in Berlin are eagerly anticipated, featuring highlights in contemporary art, modern art, and 19th-century art.