Name: Charles Riva
Location: Brussels, London. Paris
Profession: Art gallery owner and collector

Charles Riva has been and major player in the contemporary art scene for over a decade. The young gallery owner and collector was born in Neuilly sur Seine outside Paris, France, studied graphic design in NYC where he also opened his first gallery in 2000 (it is now closed). He currently operates four contemporary art venues, the Sutton Lane galleries in London, Brussels and Paris and the privately run not-for-profit Charles Riva Collection in Brussels.

What interests you about working in the art world?
The people are very dynamic, coming from all backgrounds with strong personalities and strong points of view, but what interests me most is the art itself; I am attracted to its constant transformations.

What motivates you to collect art?
Art collecting is like any other form of collection; once you begin it is difficult to stop. I am motivated, though, by the artists and by the things they make.

What kind of art do you like to collect?
My collection ranges quite widely, from young New York artists like Tauba Auerbach and Chris Wool to more established artists like Jonathan Meese and Isa Genzken. Our next show at Charles Riva Collection will be of Paul McCarthy works, opening April 29th, 2011. 

Why is it important for people to be exposed to contemporary art?
Contemporary art is a reflection and response to what is around us. It reveals all the complexities, beauty, and ugliness of our world. It is something that encompasses all forms of culture: cinema, music, dance, etc. and is always being re-mixed and re-interpreted. The power in contemporary art is its ability to surprise us by its many forms.

Can you describe the mission of your Sutton Lane galleries?
Sutton Lane focuses primarily on emerging artists. Through our three spaces in London, Paris, and Brussels, we work to give a respected platform to promising talent which spans a variety of mediums and goals: everything from the delicately political drawings of Pavel Pepperstein to Blake Rayne's clever and contemplative take on modernism as a conceptual practice.

Why did you start the Charles Riva Collection?
To share my growing collection with the public and to meet others who are interested in Contemporary Art.

How does it work in terms of a business?
Charles Riva is a not-for-profit collection, and is privately funded.