Brothers Dino and Raffaello Tomasso are partners in Tomasso Brothers Fine Art since the opening of the gallery in Leeds in 1993. They opened their London gallery in St James’s in 2013. As they recently welcome the next generation of the Tomasso family, the gallery is now operating as TOMASSO. I spoke with Dino about art fairs, in particular TEFAF Maastricht, where the gallery exhibits every year.

artfairmag: You participated in TEFAF Maastricht and TEFAF New York Fall. Are the clients and challenges different between the European and American editions?

Dino Tomasso: It has to be said that the clientele does differ between New York and Maastricht, but our returning collectors by and large visit both venues. TEFAF New York was conceived as a satellite edition and stepping stone to what will always be the primary fair. For obvious reasons, the main difference between the two locations for galleries based in Europe is logistics. The two fairs fully complement each other, allowing us to reach a far wider American audience in New York than we see in Maastricht, as well as there being a much larger percentage of European visitors in Maastricht, complemented by returning international clients.

artfairmag: Are the collectors you meet in art fairs the same as the ones that come to your galleries?

D. T.: Yes, we tend to see familiar faces at both fairs and gallery events, but TEFAF offers an opportunity to connect with clients who would seldom pass by the gallery.

artfairmag: You have exhibited artworks by Damian Hirst several times at TEFAF Maastricht – I presume this was to attract contemporary art collectors? Did this and would you employ this kind of parallel approach again?

D. T.: Our choice to work with Damian was based on a personal relationship from childhood, together with a shared aesthetic for works of art across many centuries. We have done several joint exhibitions which have included contemporary artists and should the correct opportunity arise again, we would give it serious consideration.

artfairmag: Tomasso Brothers showcases some very large sculptures. Do you bring these large pieces to TEFAF, or do you prefer displaying smaller ones, which are perhaps easier to sell?

D. T.: Over the last decade exhibiting at TEFAF we are fortunate that the gallery has achieved a reputation for exhibiting objects of significant artistic and historical value. Some of these objects that have been amongst the highlights of the fair have been on a monumental scale, which has always garnered an enthusiastic response from visitors.

artfairmag: Our readers would love to know more about what you are going to showcase at TEFAF. Could you give us some clues?

D. T.: For this year’s edition of TEFAF Maastricht, we will be bringing some recent important rediscoveries in the sculpture field. At the same time, we have totally reinvented the way we are presenting objects, with a highly unusual display.

artfairmag: What are your favourite moments when you are participating in a fair? The excitement of the opening, quiet conversations with collectors over the following days or cheerful evenings with other art dealers?

D. T.: I’m particularly fond of the initial conversation with a potential new client, especially if they are thinking of entering the field of European sculpture. TEFAF fairs are unique in the fact that they create a wonderful atmosphere of camaraderie between the dealers, and naturally, the opening is always exciting, as a large part of our business is done on that day.