Who are Isabel and Agustín Coppel?
Agustín Coppel Luken serves as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Grupo Coppel, which stands as the sixth-largest employer in the world's 16th largest economy.
As the youngest among seven siblings, Agustín Coppel continues the family legacy by leading the company originally founded by his father, Enrique Coppel Tamayo. His educational background includes a degree in Marketing from TEC de Monterrey, along with various studies in Human Development, Senior Management, Quality, and Store Management.
With a robust entrepreneurial history that complements the family business, Agustín has established significant companies and made private equity investments across various sectors in Mexico, the United States, and Europe, spanning financial services, biotechnology, energy, agriculture, entertainment, retail, and marketing. He holds positions as chairman and/or board member on several Boards of Directors.
Since 2008, Agustín Coppel has been a notable participant in the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he has made substantial contributions and played a pivotal role in various discussions due to his diverse interests and analytical insights.
In his philanthropic journey, Agustín Coppel stands out as one of the most active Mexican businessmen dedicated to promoting education, science, culture, ecology, and societal advancement. His remarkable contributions in the field of education earned him the Leadership to Education Award from the international organization Worldfund in 2017.
Together with his wife Isabel, Agustín initiated the CIAC (Isabel and Agustín Coppel Contemporary Art Collection) in 1990. Through this foundation, they extend support to artists and museums, working diligently to promote art and culture within Mexican society.
Agustín Coppel Luken holds the position of Trustee on the Contemporary Art Committee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and is also a Trustee of the Rufino Tamayo Museum Foundation.
In recognition of his commitment to collecting, he was honored with the ArcoMadrid A Award for Collecting by the Arco Foundation in 2017. His philanthropic endeavors further earned him the Mexico Philanthropist of the Year Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals in 2011, the MontBlanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award from the MontBlanc Foundation in 2013, and the Promotion of the Arts Award from the José Limón Dance Company of New York in 2011.
Agustín Coppel Luken serves as a prominent role model in the social and business sphere. His professional achievements, personal integrity, and unwavering generosity serve as a wellspring of inspiration for the business community's commitment to their country.
One of Mexico's most significant collections
Agustín, along with his wife Isabel, has curated one of Mexico's most significant collections of contemporary art, featuring works by local luminaries such as Francis Alÿs, Melanie Smith, Gabriel Orozco, Abraham Cruzvillegas, and Damián Ortega. Their collection also includes pieces by renowned international artists like Gordon Matta-Clark, Lygia Clark, Ed Ruscha, Hélio Oiticica, Tatiana Trouvé, Rivane Neuenschwander, and Terence Koh. Additionally, their nonprofit organization supports exhibitions, publications, research initiatives, and public art projects.
In 2011, the Coppels loaned 100 artworks from their collection to the Museum of Latin American Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in California for a joint exhibition titled "Mexico: Expected/Unexpected." This exhibition showcased prominent figures from the Mexican contemporary art scene, including Alÿs, Orozco, Carlos Amorales, Iñaki Bonillas, Cruzvillegas, Jorge Méndez Blake, and Pedro Reyes, alongside international artists such as Clark, William Eggleston, and Matta-Clark. The exhibition covered various artistic mediums, including painting, photography, installation, video art, sculpture, and text pieces, organized into thematic sections exploring different aspects of contemporary life and culture.
The Isabel and Agustin Coppel Collection
You might discover yourself beneath an intricately crafted metal archway adorned with flowers or stumble upon 2000 securely anchored Mexican coins on the ground. Alternatively, you could venture into a mysterious dome-like structure and encounter an unbelievably vibrant skyspace. All of this can happen while you bear witness to the remarkable biodiversity of both Mexico and the Earth itself. Within the confines of the Culiacán botanical garden, the Isabel and Agustín Coppel Collection (CIAC) has installed 38 contemporary artworks created by Mexican and international artists, including some of the most renowned figures in the art world.
CIAC (The Isabel and Agustin Coppel Collection) is a Mexican non-profit organization dedicated to advancing contemporary art through its support for exhibitions, publications, research initiatives, and artistic projects. In its commitment to fostering a deeper engagement with a broader audience, CIAC not only backs a variety of projects but also develops exhibition programs, editorial undertakings, as well as apps and audioguides. These tools not only enhance the visibility of the collection but also facilitate the sharing of knowledge about contemporary art. The collection's origins date back to 1990 when it initially focused on modern Mexican art before expanding its scope to encompass national and international contemporary art, with a special emphasis on photography.
The Isabel and Agustín Coppel Collection (CIAC) is an art collection founded in Mexico and a non-profit association with the aim of promoting contemporary art and increasing its accessibility to the general public. Renowned as one of Mexico's most significant collections of contemporary art.
Selena Mattei
