Swiss entrepreneur and art patron Maja Hoffmann is a major figure in the world of contemporary art. Heiress to a wealthy family with links to the pharmaceutical industry, she has established herself as a driving force in supporting artistic creation and cultural innovation. She is founder and president of LUMA Arles, a cultural campus located in the former industrial wasteland of the SNCF workshops in Arles, and also chairs the Vincent Van Gogh Foundation in the same town.
Maja Hoffmann and Arles: a strong tie
Maja Hoffmann grew up partly in Arles, where she was deeply influenced by the commitment of her father, Luc Hoffmann, visionary ecologist and founder of “La Tour du Valat”, a research institute for the conservation of Mediterranean wetlands in the Camargue, as well as the WWF. His childhood, cradled by the unique light of Arles and the wild landscapes of the Camargue, nurtured his artistic sensibility and deep attachment to nature, values that today permeate his cultural and environmental projects.
Arles occupies a special place in Maja Hoffmann's life. Inspired by its history, culture and heritage, she has breathed new life into the town, echoing figures such as Lucien Clergue, Jean-Maurice Rouquette and Michel Tournier, founders of the Rencontre d'Arles, and Yolande Clergue, who have also helped make Arles a renowned cultural center. Through her commitment to the Vincent Van Gogh Foundation, Maja Hoffmann pays tribute to the artistic genius while promoting dialogue between past and present.
A Visionary of Art and Architecture
Maja Hoffmann has a gift for turning places into incubators of ideas. In Arles, she has invested considerable resources to turn the city into an epicenter for contemporary art. With LUMA Arles, inaugurated in 2021, she has designed a multidisciplinary space bringing together artists, architects, scientists and thinkers. The emblematic tower designed by Frank Gehry, which houses the heart of the project, has become a symbol of modernity in the historic city of Arles.
Commitment to Culture and the Environment
In addition to her interest in art, Maja Hoffmann is a passionate advocate of environmental and social issues. Her approach often incorporates concerns related to sustainable development and the preservation of natural resources. Through LUMA, she has supported initiatives combining art and science to explore innovative solutions to contemporary challenges.
An heiress to Modernism
An influential businesswoman and philanthropist, Maja Hoffmann embodies a form of modernism where art, technology and society coexist harmoniously. Her work at LUMA Arles reflects her ability to marry architectural audacity, artistic innovation and social responsibility, making her a key figure in contemporary culture.