“A Day in the Life” with gallery owner Emilia Ianeva

Enthusiasm always greets you when you meet up with Emilia Ianeva. Her eyes tell you that she is totally with you. That’s the sensation I felt when I met Emilia in 2003.

On our first date, we visited a museum in San Francisco to view a masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci, entitled “Lady with an Ermine”. As we exited the museum, still talking about the human figure and gesture in the artwork, my own thoughts began to drift beyond the conversation. I began to realize that an image of beauty was walking with me to the car.

Emilia possessed an elegant presence then and now, in her life and at work. She is the holder of two Master’s Degrees, one in Art History and she speaks several languages. In 2011 she founded Berenson Fine Art in Toronto, representing an eclectic stable of contemporary painters and photographers. Her focus remains on the quality of their artwork when presenting one-person and group exhibitions.

Emilia curated public and private collections in the US, Canada and the Middle East. She is the author of three books of philosophy published in Europe. She was the Associate Director of the Pasquale Iannetti Art Gallery from 2002 to 2005 in San Francisco where she built a reputation for bringing modern masters within public reach. Her expertise included organizing exhibitions of 19th and 20th-century artists including Lautrec, Pissarro, Francis Bacon and Francisco Zuniga.

While the pandemic has restricted the flow of production for the majority of the arts, Emilia continues in her journey to foster and maintain her connection with her faithful audience. I celebrate her passion and perseverance and her incredible talent in communicating with her art collectors in North America.

by Emilia’s husband and world-renowned Italian painter, Marco Sassone

Emilia Ianeva
No matter the time of day, I am always dreaming of Venice, my spiritual home.
Emilia Ianeva
At work at Berenson Fine Art.
Emilia Ianeva
What the new normal looks like as my associate Cyntia Miglio and I prepare for a day at the gallery.
A pit-stop break for an afternoon tea with my friend Jean Akerman at our favourite place: Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto.
Celebrating my parents 50th wedding anniversary. They have always been my inspiration in life.
Cooking brings people together. Here I am preparing dinner with my Aunt Fiorella while learning Italian!
With the love of my life, my husband Marco Sassone, an internationally known artist.
Finishing the day with a late-night snack of banitsa (Bulgarian pastry dish) and yogurt.

 

What hood are you in?

Yorkville.

What do you do?

I am the President of Berenson Fine Art gallery.

What are you currently working on?

2021 marks the 10th anniversary of the gallery. Right now, I have lots of planning and preparations in the works for some exciting exhibitions landing in Spring to make it a year to remember at Berenson Fine Art!

Where can we find your work?

My website | Instagram | Facebook

 

 

About Joel Levy 2530 Articles
Editor-In-Chief at Toronto Guardian. Photographer and Writer for Toronto Guardian and Joel Levy Photography