Gate Gallery

Gate Gallery is a very young contemporary art gallery based in Lugano, Switzerland, dedicated to the promotion of painting and sculpture. Gate Gallery believes in the transformative power of art to define spaces and generate lasting emotional resonance in people. The gallery’s program foregrounds the tactile and three-dimensional nature of contemporary art, bringing together artists whose practices are rooted in texture, movement, light, and spatial exploration.

Founded by Misha and Masha Stumm, Gate Gallery places strong emphasis on the physicality and craftsmanship of sculpture and painting. Their curatorial choices favor artists who are able to combine traditional techniques with a contemporary vision. From April 2026 onwards, the gallery will present the reflective sculptures in polished stainless steel and bronze by Helidon Xhixha, the vibrant organic bronze sculptures by Claudia Hartmann, and the iconic oil paintings by Silvio Porzionato. Two of these artists will be presented in preview at the YouNique 2026 edition.

Gate Gallery positions itself as a gateway to distinctive artistic voices, with the aim of fostering intercultural dialogue and promoting long-term relationships between artists and collectors.

CLAUDIA HARTMANN
SILVIO PORZIONATO

CLAUDIA HARTMANN

A Swiss artist based in Ticino, Hartmann is known for her vibrant biomorphic sculptures, inspired by organic, living, and natural forms (such as cells, plants, and marine organisms), characterized by curves, fluidity, and complexity, distinguishing them from rigid geometric forms. Her works, though made of bronze, evoke lightness, movement, and a sense of natural mystery, inviting the viewer to slow, sensorial contemplation. Her practice combines a material sensitivity with a contemporary formal language, enriching the artistic landscape with unique pieces that blend nature and abstraction.

Born in Sorengo, Switzerland, in 1965, but raised in Milan, she lived for seven years in Shanghai and four in Singapore. Her encounter with such diverse cultures prompted her to return to oil painting, which she had practiced since childhood, with a new, more mature and conscious vision. Her encounter with sculpture took place a few years later when, upon her return to Canton Ticino in 2006, she discovered the passion to which she now dedicates herself in a constant path of growth both stylistically and personally

SILVIO PORZIONATO

Born in Moncalieri, Italy, in 1971, Porzionato works primarily with oil on canvas, developing a powerful figurative language focused on identity, presence, and the human condition. Drawing from realistic photographic references, he captures faces at the precise moment they transition between strong emotions, transforming them into compelling works of art. His figurative paintings confront the viewer with intense and direct imagery, balanced by a refined and controlled painterly technique. Through monumental close-up portraits, Porzionato elevates everyday subjects into universal icons of humanity. His work exists at the intersection of realism and contemporary portraiture. His career includes participation in international exhibitions and art fairs, consolidating his position within the global art market.