BLOOMING MAVERICKS IN A WORLD OF GIANTS

Nothing sounds more gratifying than making a living from art, right? The mere thought of spending your days surrounded by works that nurture your soul and spark your creativity is thrilling. There is a certain romance in meeting like-minded individuals, traveling the world, getting caught up in mind-blowing conversations, discovering new artists and perhaps even playing a part in sculpting art history. While undertaking this journey can be an arduous task, the rewards include the possibility of living an exciting and passionate life.

Maria Bernheim would tell you just that. She is an art-world wonder woman of many talents: petite, ambitious, dynamic, knowledge-hungry and sassy. Born in Romania and raised in Paris, Bernheim grew up with art in her blood thanks to her father, an artist and art dealer. After Bernheim completed her undergraduate studies at Oxford University, and her master’s degree at the Sorbonne in Paris, she spent some time in the department of Russian Art at Sotheby’s Paris, before relocating to Zürich in 2009. It was in the stars. Galerie Gmurzynska was calling her name, so off she went to Switzerland—the land of milk and honey, Art Basel and Kägi—to be their researcher and head of publications. A few years later she would transition to Galerie Eva Presenhuber, where she remained as sales director and artist liaison until 2015, when Galerie Maria Bernheim opened its doors in December in Zürich.

Let’s not beat around the bush: art galleries, unlike nonprofits and other arts organizations, are strange creatures.