In the spotlight: Coulisse Gallery
- C-print
- 4 hours ago
- 6 min read
While the local art scene in Stockholm sometimes can feel a little stagnant, a gallery that is currently leading the pack, with a fast-rising international presence is Coulisse Gallery. Founded in early 2022 but already with an inspiring trajectory to date, we check in with Filip Zięciak, founder, and Jeanette Gunnarsson, co-director, to find out where the gallery is heading from here on.
C-P: Before diving into the gallery, could you please share some words on what you’ve done prior to Coulisse?
F.Z: I studied at the art school in Poznań, Poland, and later completed my master’s degree at Konstfack. Afterwards, I moved between fashion and architecture, using that time to explore where I belonged. Opening the gallery marked a turning point—it brought together my interests and experience, and for the first time, I felt grounded in what I do. It is a role I genuinely enjoy and feel deeply connected to.
J.G: I moved to Stockholm from London four years ago to attend the Curating Master’s Programme at Stockholm University. Before that, I had been working as a freelance curator in London for many years. I love London and see it as my second home, but I was ready for a new chapter, and Stockholm has really given me that.
C-P: Filip, I recall a lengthy chat with you in the old space on Sigtunagatan. A lot has happened since. The gallery has relocated to a bigger space, the programme has evolved, and you have taken giant leaps towards the international art scene with participation in multiple art fairs.
F.Z: Yes, it’s amazing. We are super thankful for everything that has happened! We always have a semi-long-term goal, an ambition we work towards. The first one was to get into Liste Art Basel, then Frieze London. It was the same with moving to a bigger space and the growth of our artists. One step at a time, sometimes two.
C-P: Participating at international art fairs is not only a ton of work for a small gallery team but also financially very taxing. What prompted you to steer towards art fairs? And what is your overall experience from them to date?
F.Z: Well, we can’t imagine not doing them. We found them to be a necessary step forward, to be able to engage with the broader art world ecosystem. We are very focused on building bridges between art scenes, not least for our artists. We want our artists to be exposed to multiple art scenes simultaneously and to ensure they have long, sustainable careers.
J.G: Both Filip and I have always been aware that we are not “locals” in Stockholm, and exploring how to connect with the outside and broader scenes, some of which we have been connected to previously (Poland, UK), comes naturally to us. Also, we are quite adventurous and love a challenge, and so far, our calculated and sometimes crazy risks have paid off. Doing Frieze London was a huge highlight for us last year; for me, it was a bit of a homecoming, and the artists, gallerists, and collectors we met were incredible. We also had some of our Stockholm collectors who came to the fair, and that support was really meaningful.
F.Z: It is also really exciting to see and connect with gallerists in London, Basel, Miami, or Warsaw. I speak with my fellow gallerists from Warsaw almost every day. We eventually want to participate in Art Basel, and the path to get there is, of course, hard work, but we believe it is worth it!
C-P: Jeanette, you joined the gallery as a director a while back and co-run the gallery. Would you like to share some words on your collaboration, what you both bring to the table so to speak?
J.G: Filip and I meeting was very serendipitous. I was new in town and looking for opportunities to collaborate, and Filip had just opened the gallery and was looking for collaborative partners. We realized quickly that we were a good duo. Filip brings a lot of energy and ideas, and I have been in the art world for many years prior. Looking back on those early years makes me laugh a little. We have definitely grown and evolved so much in a short period of time. I admire and like that Filip is so forward-oriented, and I think I bring a grounded focus to the whole operation.
C-P: Out of curiosity, is there a gallery out there with a trajectory that serves as inspiration for yours?
F.Z: Definitely. I closely follow the activities of my fellow gallerists who are on a similar level or higher. Warsaw-based galleries like Dawid Radziszewski and Wschód are a big inspiration. They have existed for ten years or less, and their artists are co-represented by places like Mendes Wood, have had solo exhibitions at Kunsthalle Basel, and have managed in a short time to get into the Art Basel circles. They have done it without having a financial backup. I also love and admire Nordenhake’s programme. They are very consistent, smart, uncompromising, and still relevant after so many years.
J.G: I find it really important to focus inward and on our own journey, but of course, there are galleries that I greatly admire and appreciate. Franz Kaka in Toronto is one of them. Having started as an artist-run space, they have a very artist-centered, dedicated approach to their programming. You really feel their dedication to artist practice, and it’s nice to see how they have evolved over the past ten years. Coming from a creative and curatorial background ourselves, I resonate with their approach. Galleries are interesting spaces because they really become like an extension of your own interests and passions, and they portray different aspects of the art world in quite a personal way.
C-P: The Polish influence in the gallery programme is evident, and one I personally find very exciting, but in your own words, what are your thoughts on the programme? Where do you see it going from here?
F.Z: It came very naturally; working and exploring the Polish art scene was a way for me to reconnect with my identity after living in Sweden for ten years. It also makes sense since Sweden and Poland are neighbors. I love Sweden and miss Poland sometimes when I’m in Stockholm. I’m happy that my work allows me to have contact with both cultures. It’s also unique to our gallery’s DNA, the meeting of different worlds. Jeanette really enjoys exploring that art scene too, and she has built a close relationship with an amazing art foundation there, with whom she exclusively works.
C-P: Looking back on the journey so far, what are some of your most memorable personal highlights?
F.Z: Selling an artwork by Rafał Zajko to British pop legend Neil Tennant at Frieze London last year.
J.G: For me, the highlight has been growing and evolving alongside our artists and community. I am really proud of everything we managed to achieve over the last few years, but it was not a solo achievement by any means. I feel really grateful to everyone who is a part of this and who supports us, and to the artists who put their trust in us. Moving into our new premises last January was huge. I remember walking through the space in disbelief that this would be our new home, and it has been so rewarding to be able to put on multiple solo exhibitions, showing artists from Sweden alongside international ones, for example, or putting on bigger group shows. Art is about dialogue, and I feel that this location has allowed us to really expand on that conversation.
C-P: Finally, what’s on the horizon for the gallery? When we met in Warsaw on the occasion of WGW back in September, Filip hinted at a second space in the city in the future.
F.Z: At the moment, our goal is to pay for all of the art fairs we’re doing this year, hehe! Joking, but our longer-term goal at the moment is to get to Art Basel in Basel. After that, when we are a bit more established, we’re going to consider opening a second location in Warsaw.
J.G: I am hoping the next few years bring a steadier and less manic time for the gallery, haha! But honestly, with us, you never know what we will take on when the opportunity strikes!
For more info, please visit: coulisse-gallery.com