MEET THE GALLERY is an interview series highlighting returning exhibitors and first-time VOLTA galleries. More than simply experts, these VOLTA exhibitors are supporters of young and mid-career artists and provide insights on their presentation at the fair.

MEET THE GALLERY introduces Mattias Tönnheim, founder of the Marbella and Malmö-based WADSTRÖM TÖNNHEIM GALLERY. Read the interview and learn about Mattias’ love to discover and develop pure talent.

Dear Mattias Tönnheim, we are excited for you to join us at VOLTA New York in May and Basel in June. Tell us a bit about your gallery and your journey in the art world.

Mattias Tönnheim: I grew up with contemporary art and it’s a been a natural part of my life early on. I started collecting at a very young age when I invested some parts of the inheritance of my mother in Swedish and Danish artists.

I started my first gallery project in Stockholm in the mid-nineties but selling art is not a young mans game so I made a career in other businesses. I then returned to the gallery world when I turned 40. But I never stoped collecting and supporting emerging artists.

What encourages you to support young and mid-career artists?

Mattias Tönnheim: I love to discover and develop pure talent. It’s almost like a fetish!

Which artist are you bringing to VOLTA in New York and Basel? And how do you approach both presentations?

Mattias Tönnheim: For VOLTA New York we are bring four artists that represents the unique diversity of our gallery program. The emerging young artist Daniel Fleur from Sweden and young American and New York-based artist Henry Swanson, as well as the established Swedish artist Torbjörn Johansson and Argentinian and Andalucian-based sculpture Matias Di Carlo.

In Basel we will exhibit established Greek and Berlin-based artist Konstantino Dregos, in a dialogue with Swedish artist Martin Ålund. As well as new works by sculpture Matias Di Carlo, which we also show at VOLTA New York.

Which advice would you give to the next generation of collectors that are making their first steps into the art world?

Mattias Tönnheim: Do your homework and invest with your eyes and heart not only your ears. Diversify, follow more than one gallery. And always ask questions. Be curious. The one with best information and most the accurate sources discovers and gets good deals.

Follow WADSTRÖM TÖNNHEIM GALLERY on Instagram at @wadstromtonnheimgallery.