Our story

A new chapter

After selling my media company in 2022, the question I encountered most frequently was, "What’s next for you? What will your next project be?" To be perfectly candid, I often found myself unable to provide a clear answer. I genuinely had no defined direction in mind. However, I was certain about one thing: I wanted to honor the traditional one-year sabbatical—dedicating time to family, friends, and travel. Despite these well-meaning intentions, I quickly found myself straying from this plan.

Lindström's daughter

At the end of February 2023, after a three-day trip in Paris, everything suddenly became very clear, unconsciously my passion for art was further ignited with a visit to the 72-year-old daughter of one of my favorite (already deceased) Swedish artist, Bengt Lindström. We discovered an early work of Bengt Lindström in a gallery in Paris by walking by the gallery window. We felt immediately in love with the work and wanted to buy it. Because we wanted to make sure the work was authentic, we needed to have more information. There was only one problem, it was Friday evening and nobody was available to provide us with more information about the authenticity.

After a brief night’s sleep, I came across the contact information for Marianna Lindström, the daughter of Bengt Lindström. That very morning, we called her and were completely taken by surprise when she warmly invited us to visit her at her father’s former home and atelier. Marianna and her children still reside on the outskirts of Paris, in the château where Lindström lived and worked during the 1960s.

What an extraordinary encounter it turned out to be. Marianna not only confirmed the authenticity of the painting but also shared that it had once been in her possession. Our next step was to return to Paris to finalize our purchase. Today, "Le Protecteur" proudly resides in our private collection, bringing us immense joy every single day.

The meeting with Marianna Lindström, Bengt Lindström’s daughter, and Curt, one of his closest friends, combined with countless visits to art fairs and inspiring conversations with gallerists, reignited a deep passion within me.

This passion soon evolved into the idea of creating a gallery—not a traditional one on a bustling street, but an intimate space within our own home. A place where art could be experienced in a warm, personal setting, and where like-minded individuals could gather over a drink to celebrate creativity. And so, Private Walls Gallery was born.

In 2024, we are thrilled to announce the opening of a second gallery on the Belgian coast in Knokke-Zoute. Open during holidays and weekends, this new space invites art enthusiasts to explore our collection in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

This journey would not have been possible without the unwavering support of my wife, Ambre.

Michael Deroose
Owner, Private Walls Gallery

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