Collector’s Eye: Ulysses de Santi on the Objects and Ideas Inspiring Him Now

“I’ve always been drawn to objects that hold presence—not just because of how they look, but because of what they carry,” says Brazilian modern and contemporary design collector, curator and dealer Ulysses de Santi, who has been mastering his craft for nearly 10 years. “I began collecting Brazilian modernist furniture out of a deep respect for its integrity, its authorship and the stories embedded in the material,” he shares.

Naturally, this evolved into curation and exhibit production. In fact, de Santi recently wrapped up a unique exhibition at Christie’s Los Angeles, where he fashioned an immersive atmosphere that dwells on Brazilian design history while celebrating contemporary artistry.

“Lightness & Tension presented a focused dialogue between two generations of Brazilian creators—Joaquim Tenreiro and Lucas Simões—who both explore structure, restraint and material integrity, but in radically different ways,” the curator says of the exhibition. Taking a more interpretative route, de Santi intentionally placed the differing artists’ works in contrast with each other, “to collapse the perceived distance between them and show how design can carry both historical weight and contemporary edge,” he continues.

“Brazilian design teaches you to hold contradictions—restraint and sensuality, tradition and reinvention,” he explains. Growing up surrounded by materials that age gracefully, the duality ultimately trained his eye. “It also taught me that every piece of design is part of a larger cultural story.”

While his latest curation paid particular attention to his Brazilian roots, de Santi’s current home in California similarly inspires his work. “California offers a kind of openness—to scale, to light, to possibility—that’s deeply liberating,” he offers. “I think the casual elegance of California allows serious design to breathe.” Beyond Brazil and California, de Santi is already working on a new project on the East Coast with Simões. But when he’s not busy with work, he often finds himself happily at home with his kids. Though “even in my spare moments, I’m usually seeking inspiration,” he says. Here, we checked in with the design versatilist to see what’s inspiring him now.