Monacqua and George Condo have teamed up for a limited-edition bottle series, blending art, sustainability, and philanthropy in a project unveiled at NMNM Villa Paloma.
A breakfast launch event held on 22nd April at the New National Museum of Monaco (NMNM) – Villa Paloma marked the official debut of the collaboration between the sustainable water brand Monacqua and American contemporary artist George Condo. Monaco Life was present as the limited-edition bottle—featuring Condo’s artwork—was unveiled ahead of its distribution rollout. Among those in attendance was also Georges Marsan, Mayor of Monaco
Monacqua, a Monaco-based brand founded by Geeta Kalwani in 2022, has partnered with Condo to produce 100,000 bottles over a six-month period. The artist’s distinctive portrait appears on both paper-based cartons and glass bottles, continuing Monacqua’s commitment to eco-friendly packaging. The bottles will be available through the company’s usual distribution channels, including cafés, restaurants, and supermarkets.
Kalwani, a long-time admirer of the arts, said the idea took shape after Monacqua received a generous advertising proposal. However, she felt it went against the brand’s ethos. “Diluting something I had built with such care and affection felt wrong,” she explained. “Why not use the bottle to spread beauty, poetry, and culture? It’s the same as spreading joy.”
The turning point came in October 2024 when Kalwani attended a lecture on George Condo. His strong ties to Monaco and the Princely family made him a natural fit. “I pitched the idea to him—we could celebrate his retrospective at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris at the end of 2025 and pay tribute to the noble work of the Princess Grace Foundation,” she said, adding “The collaboration took shape very naturally from that moment on.”
Art in a bottle
At the launch, Kalwani called the partnership “a great source of pride”, spotlighting Condo’s longstanding and meaningful connection to the Principality. That relationship will also be celebrated in October 2025, when a major retrospective of his work opens at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris.
Björn Dahlström, Director of NMNM, commented on the relevance of the partnership and venue, “George Condo has long been part of Monaco’s cultural landscape, and it feels entirely fitting to host this collaboration at Villa Paloma, where his Humanoids exhibition was presented in 2023. The project reflects the museum’s commitment to facilitating dialogues between contemporary art and the Principality’s cultural heritage.”
Describing the spirit of the edition, Kalwani said she views the artwork “as an interpretation of the Monaco woman: attractive, complex, and with eyes everywhere! With her bold yellow tones and surreal, fragmented features, the work is joyful, mischievous, and deep. It’s unmistakably George Condo—inviting people to pause, reflect, and feel, even just for a moment.
The collaboration also has a philanthropic dimension. A charity auction of signed bottles will be organised by auctioneer Simon de Pury, with proceeds benefiting the Fondation Princesse Grace. Each bottle sold will also contribute a portion of its revenue to the foundation’s work with children facing serious illness.
Condo, who has maintained strong ties with the Princely family and Monaco’s art scene, first gained prominence in the 1980s while working alongside Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat. His works are held in major institutions including the MoMA, the Tate, and the Centre Pompidou.
Rather than positioning the collaboration as a collector’s item, the bottles will be priced at Monacqua’s standard retail rate in an effort to make contemporary art more accessible
Further details regarding the charity auction will be announced closer to the end of the year.
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Main photo supplied.