SimonBart Gallery: Where Art Echoes with the Sea

It’s the story of a family that, in 1987, opened its first gallery in Southern Italy, embarking on a path driven by passion and a personal vision of the profession, one that sought to go beyond the trends of the moment and offer an innovative approach.

With the second generation, SimonBart Gallery was born. Building on the experience inherited from the first, it chose to open up to international dialogue. The family’s story thus extended to Porto Cervo, where the gallery’s first location was inaugurated.

Since 2013, the gallery has developed the concept of a true cultural exchange, enriching all its participants — artists, collectors, and curators alike — and transforming it into a hub of cultural sharing, while fostering the ambition to project this vision onto an increasingly international stage.

This choice stems from Simon’s experience, who, through his studies and time abroad, came to understand the importance of opening what had until then been a familial and spontaneous dimension of love for art to a broader, intercultural context — capable of enriching both its content and its horizons.

We have all always been deeply involved in this activity, which for us has never been just a job, but a lifelong passion. Simon is the figure primarily responsible for the managerial side of the gallery, yet he never loses sight of ongoing dialogue with the other family members.

We consciously strive to keep this dialogue alive, as the contributions and experiences of different generations provide a unique depth in approaching artistic themes that, while transcending time, often follow recurring cycles.

While Simon manages most of the managerial aspects, the family continues to play a fundamental role in shaping the gallery’s ideas and vision. This connection allows us to interpret, with greater insight, both the dynamics and the very essence of the art world.

For us, what matters most is artistic research, because we believe that the journey each artist undertakes to express their inner world is what makes the creation of extraordinary works possible. The artwork, in fact, is the culmination of a lifelong process, and this is what we consider when selecting artists for the gallery: not only their career, but also the human journey that supports it.

For us, real art is the ability to interpret contemporary life through an original language, one that transcends the ordinary.

That answer captures something I find particularly interesting about SimonBart: the artwork is not treated as an isolated object. The person, the research and the trajectory behind it matter too.

All three, indeed. Today, both the level of artists and the art world itself is far more complex than even a few years ago: the possibilities for communication and dissemination are practically endless, and what our collectors seek — and what we seek for them — must meet increasingly sophisticated and comprehensive demands. This compels us to conduct research that is ever more thorough and precise.

Of course, this process is never based solely on “cold” parameters: in our daily practice, we leave room for instinct, which guides and enriches our choices, while remaining fully aware of the expertise and knowledge that are essential in today’s world.

Today, the audience in Porto Cervo is much more attentive and diverse. The location experiences high tourist traffic and international dynamics, and our visitors are accustomed to engaging with the art world on a global level.

When we first started, it was innovative to offer a certain type of artistic proposal in a vacation destination, with the aim of enhancing it. Today, however, visitors expect to encounter art even in tourist contexts, which drives us to continually elevate our offerings, which have grown in significance over the years.

Our goal is to go beyond the physical boundaries of the gallery, with special projects and narratives that take shape at our Bologna location during the winter and then reach Porto Cervo in the summer, maintaining freshness, curatorial quality, and a consistently high profile.

This shift is interesting in itself. Art in Costa Smeralda is no longer simply something added to a luxury destination. Increasingly, it is expected to be part of its cultural landscape.

What we hope people take with them most of all is a sense of fulfillment, especially on a human level, through the value of the relationships we strive to build. For us, it is never only about selling the works of our artists, but about creating lasting connections that arise from the joy of sharing a genuine passion and common values.

We would like to share a recent episode that gave us great satisfaction. One of our earliest clients, after receiving a newsletter dedicated to Gianfranco Meggiato — an artist we have worked with for over twenty years — wrote to congratulate us on the remarkable trajectory of his career.

Meggiato was recently featured in a major exhibition at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan, organized in collaboration with the Azerbaijani government and showcasing dozens of monumental sculptures.

This appreciation brought to mind the time, almost fifteen years ago, when we presented his first monumental work in Sardinia. We were convinced it was something special, even though we could not have imagined how far it would go. Yet we have always believed deeply in him. Seeing the milestones achieved today by the artists we have long supported fills us with emotion and reaffirms the value of our work.

There is something particularly meaningful in this answer: not simply discovering an artist, but staying with an artist long enough to see the original intuition proved over time.

Over time, our vision of art has grown increasingly complex, as has that of our family. Throughout our family’s story, each of us has brought different skills and sensitivities, all of which deserve to be valued and have contributed to creating a multifaceted dimension, both personally and professionally.

Today, personalities are more nuanced, driven by a constant pursuit of perfection, which makes it even more challenging to harmonize individual inclinations and perspectives. We believe it is no longer enough to highlight a single narrative: within any story, it is essential to allow space for the many facets of personality. These differences enable a deeper understanding and represent a true richness, both human and professional, in tune with the challenges of our time.

We do not seek absolute perfection: what matters to us is the harmony between elements, the ability to pursue a shared and coherent path, and to grow alongside the times in which we live.

Above all, we want to convey that passion for one’s work can become a vehicle for values to be passed on to future generations. More than the end result, what truly matters is the way in which things are carried out — artistically, professionally, and personally. We believe that it is precisely the manner in which we relate to those around us that makes the real difference.

Art Beyond the Gallery

SimonBart’s work does not end at the gallery door.

Over the years, its presence in Sardinia has extended into collaborations and special projects in spaces such as Phi Beach, bringing contemporary art into places where people may not necessarily arrive expecting to encounter it.

That feels particularly appropriate for Costa Smeralda.

Here, architecture, landscape, hospitality, design and art constantly overlap.

And perhaps that is why a gallery like SimonBart makes sense here: not as another luxury destination, but as a place that gives visitors a reason to stop looking at the surface.

A Personal Tip

Do not visit SimonBart simply because you happen to be passing by on the way to an aperitivo.

Go deliberately.

Give yourself enough time to look without deciding immediately what speaks to you.

The most interesting works often reveal themselves slowly — through form, material, story or simply the feeling that makes you return to them.

And sometimes that is how a meaningful relationship with art begins.