Luisa Strina grew up in a family devoted to art in its many varied forms: one grandfather drew and wrote plays; the other took more than a passing interest in architecture (he was one of the Martinellis behind São Paulo’s first skyscraper).

Strina bought her first painting at the age of 16 and opened her own gallery in 1974—now it is one of the city’s most venerable contemporary art spaces. In line with Strina’s family tradition, her gallery represents a mixture of local and international artists who work in wildly differing styles and mediums, from photography and installation to painting and sculpture.