"In art, I look for a strong voice, artistic coherence, ambition, and passion" Béatrice Masi
[Italian to English]:
A gallery and (gallery owner) on the move: The Spaceless gallery
The young art advisor Béatrice Masi has launched an initiative to support artists, giving them visibility by organizing exhibitions each time in a different place: "In art, I look for a strong voice, artistic coherence, ambition, and passion".
Béatrice Masi is an eclectic young woman and art lover who, thanks to her multifaceted experience as a curator, art advisor, and gallery owner, has created a project that reflects her: The Spaceless Gallery. An interesting initiative to support artists that guarantees them visibility and organizes exhibitions in a different place each time. I met her virtually to get the details of this multifaceted project.
How did you approach the art world?
"It was always clear to me that I was deeply visual. From the age of 10, I was determined to become an interior designer to the point where I would wake up in the middle of the night to rearrange my bedroom. Later, when I discovered art history and met artists and creatives, it became apparent that I was inhabited entirely by art and wanted to work with living artists. Art lives in me and stimulates me more than anything else."
How did the Spaceless Gallery project come about?
"The project started from a simple conversation. An artist friend shared that her work felt limited to specific locations and networks despite being represented by different galleries around the world. This was the spark that gave me the impetus to work with artists in presenting their work in ever-changing environments, within exceptional spaces and with collaborators, expanding the artist's reach a little further."
Can you briefly outline the artists you collaborate with and the criteria for their selection?
"What I look for in art and advocate for is a strong voice, artistic consistency, ambition and passion. They pour their soul into their work and, in turn, I pour my passion and love into them to convey to collectors the essence of what makes me vibrate in championing their art. In a sense, all of my artists are part of what I call the "Spaceless Family" of which I am the guardian. Each of my artists has a voice and the artists talk to each other wonderfully through their approach to materiality and their connection to nature more globally.
You have three projects that have just opened in Paris, three different spaces, different atmospheres, can you show us these three exhibitions, what unites them and what makes them unique?
"In Paris, we have in fact three exhibitions going on, we felt it was important to make them dialogue together to somehow create an itinerary without space. Our first presentation is in the elegant boutique apartment on Avenue Montaigne, conceived and designed by the esteemed French interior decorators Gilles & Boissier. There, I'm showcasing the delicate sculptural work of Gabriel Sobin along with the romantic landscapes of analog photographer Lara Porzak. Her photographs are also on display in Armand Hadida's unique eclectic space at l'Eclaireur Hérold. This old medieval-era barn was conceived by Armand as a space where niche fashion, exclusive art and eclectic design coexist. More recently, I opened an exhibition of Ruan Hoffmann's ceramics in the converted three-storey photography studio founded by Kristofer Kongshaug. This space, called Boon, conceived and curated by Kristofer to showcase cutting-edge contemporary designers and artists, seemed like the perfect place for Ruan's words to resonate."
You were recently in Milan, are there any upcoming projects that involve Italy and, in particular, the city of Milan?
"Milan is a city that inspires me in many ways. The way the Milanese have invested and transformed certain spaces has an incredible soul. I'm currently working on a couple of projects in the city that I can't wait to share with you very soon!"
You work in spaces other than galleries by relating the artist's work to the environment, could you point out the differences in usage from the White Cube?
"For me it is important to present art in different spaces within the same city or not, to put an emphasis on how art can emotionally bring out different expressions and reactions depending on the environment in which you place it. I truly believe that art speaks for itself in a neutral environment, the "white cube," but when placed in a home or personal space, each object has a story and forms a dialogue with its surroundings. In my exhibitions, I want to create a similar energy, making our viewers and visitors feel comfortable and intrigued. It gives me great joy to see that my clients come to my exhibitions in ever increasing numbers and never cease to be surprised.
Finding the interesting dialogue between the space and the artwork takes time but is really the "reason for being" of the gallery. I am interested in creating these dialogues and collaborating with artists in spaces that already have an identity. None of my artists share the same approach, they all have their own universe, which also suggests that I aim to find environments that feel right for each of them. It's a challenge, but it's also what makes everything more exciting for my artists, my clients, and myself. For example, Hugh Findletar, based between Milan and Venice, makes fabulous eccentric busts of women that are sculptures and vases. We have collaborated all over the world with top florists to present and create a powerful symbiosis of glass art and flower art."