Matteo Viglietta, collector and founder of La Gaia collection, dies at 70

Matteo Viglietta, a prominent Italian art collector and entrepreneur, has died. He was known for his passion for contemporary art and his vast collection housed in a private museum in Busca, near Cuneo, which he built in 2002 with his partner Bruna. The collection comprises thousands of works acquired over decades through visits to galleries, museums, and fairs worldwide. Viglietta was also a voracious reader, maintaining an extensive library of art books and catalogues. He was remembered for his prodigious memory for artworks and their market values, as well as his intense negotiation style, which he viewed as a form of mutual respect. His collection, known as La Gaia, was curated by Gaia. Viglietta's death marks the loss of a significant figure in the Italian art collecting scene.