The Capitalyst: From nannying in London and volunteering at Fulham Palace to leading global gallery partnerships at Artsy, your career path has been anything but linear. What was the wildest pivot that taught you the most about blending art passion with business hustle?
Matilde: My journey has actually been pretty filled with art from the beginning. I was born and raised in Florence and grew up surrounded by art and I believe that is where my passion started. While studying Art History and visual culture in London I had the fantastic opportunity to nanny and live with a family which made each and every day absolutely magical, those three girls were and still are for me one of the greatest gifts of life. I then volunteered at Fulham Palace as a teaching assistant in the learning department where I combined my passion for art and history with a deep interest in teaching and art laboratories for children. My university years were very formative, I was lucky enough to be proactive and intern and volunteer in galleries and museums to learn as much as I possibly could. Straight after University I worked as an advisor and interior designer and then I joined Artsy where I worked with galleries in different markets combining art and digital technology.
The Capitalyst: You have long been fascinated by auction houses and art dealing. What is the most surprising trend you are seeing in the global art market right now, particularly in how digital platforms like Artscapy are challenging the traditional auction house model?
Matilde: I have always been fascinated about how such a traditional and old-fashioned industry can expand, and adapt to technological advances. Technologies applied to this industry can really contribute to reaching more clients, meet their needs and contribute to build trust and transparency which is one of the biggest pain points for collectors and artists.
Arscapy in particular is a fully integrated, end-to-end solution for collectors. We support them across the entire lifecycle of ownership from acquisition and advisory to valuation, collection management, financing, and eventual resale. Rather than offering fragmented services, Artscapy created a structured ecosystem around art ownership supporting, educating and nurturing the relationship with the collector through data and their empowerment.
The goal is not to challenge a specific model, but it is more to support collectors in their journey and help them understand the importance and value of art collecting which can for many be a passion, but also a financial asset that a collector can and should have control and knowledge about.
The Capitalyst: Cinema set curation, acting, and wellness are all passions of yours. How do these diverse interests influence your daily approach to art curation, and how do they help you stay sharp in the high-pressure art world?
Matilde: I have always been quite a creative individual since a young age and I believe this is mostly due or was channeled through my acting background. Within that I believe that Set curation, interior design and my passion for ice skating really taught me care and attention to details. Curating is not other than the act of caring and therefore presenting and sharing what you have cared for. Care is for me something that I try to express in everything I do from my job to my relationships. And curating really is the act of going above and beyond to present something, may that be an exhibition, a set, a home or even a partnership proposal or an event.
The art world is definitely high pressure and especially in the past two years there have been a lot of shifts and some degree of unpredictability but my passion for this subject and my desire to enrich myself and learn more is what really keeps me focused and motivated. I am lucky enough to work surrounded by wonderful colleagues in the industry and this network really is motivating and uplifting.
The Capitalyst: You managed gallery partnerships across the UK, Middle East, and Italy. How do you navigate such diverse cultural art tastes and preferences to craft client outreach that feels genuinely personal yet remains scalable across regions?
Matilde: I think I have always been driven by a deep willingness to learn and enrich myself, therefore I have always felt really lucky and grateful to have the opportunity to come across and work with such diverse regions and cultures. Listening is at the core of it and it makes such a big difference when trying to support or promote a product successfully. Ultimately all work collaborations are partnerships and need to work in the favour of both parties, if the needs of the business are understood and truly met, the collaboration will be long term and way more successful.
The Capitalyst: You have juried exhibitions like Echoes of the Future. Looking ahead to 2030, what is your boldest prediction for where the art market is heading, especially at the intersection of commerce, technology, and global collaboration?
Matilde: I believe that the artworld has been way too conservative and closed off for way too long. Collaboration and inclusion are two key aspects that definitely need to be met and enhanced today to make sure that the industry speaks and attracts the wider public. The art world needs more collectors, art enthusiasts, and professionals that are willing to promote and share a wider dialogue, may that be cultural, technological, or academic.
The Capitalyst: As a multilingual professional fluent in English, French, Spanish, and German, you are constantly juggling VIP events, international client outreach, and complex curation work. What is your secret to managing it all without burning out? Are there specific wellness rituals or psychology-based strategies that keep you grounded?
Matilde: I am very lucky to be surrounded by amazing people that fuel me and keep me grounded; my mom to start with, my cousin, my extended family, my professor, and my coach to mention the main ones. The past few years have been really challenging for personal reasons and I have probably burnt out a couple of times but I guess that is life. I am lucky and privileged because I have been able to do what I loved the most and what I am truly passionate about, fulfilling my childhood vision. I am not sure I have specific rituals but definitely walking everywhere listening to music, ice skating, throwing a fun outfit are definitely my go to daily rituals that immediately give me a boost.
The Capitalyst: For startup founders or entrepreneurs considering art investments or launching cultural ventures, what is your top piece of advice based on what you have learned navigating the intersection of art and business?
Matilde: I truly believe that art is a fantastic alternative asset, for sure the return is never ensured but so is for every other asset class. By investing into art one supports a community, gets access to a wider network of connections, professionals that might be completely different from your usual circle. You get to live and enjoy the piece you bought, they do not just live on a digital wallet. A collector builds a legacy and visual reference of his own taste or cultural choices. Buy for your budget and never assume it is not enough, by investing in art you are supporting an emerging artist’s career, his gallery, and potentially even the wider artistic community connected to that artist/academy or institution. Another piece of advise I would give to someone willing to branch out in the industry would be to find a trusted advisor you connect with and are happy to work with while building your collection or investing, that connection will shape the direction of your investments massively.
