When Leonie Herweg speaks about her work as a curator for GROTTO and the iconic Hansaviertel in Berlin, where the space for art and culture is located, her excitement is truly contagious. While sitting in the tiny gallery-like space with the huge window, it feels like not a single person passes by without greeting her. Despite being open for only half a year, GROTTO is already a stable institution in the area. Leonie, who is a full-time employee at the renowned auction house Grisebach, uses every single minute to pursue her goal of making art more accessible to a wider audience through the space, readings, events, and bringing art to the public.​

We sat down with Leonie to ask her about the key moments in her life, which brought her to where she is today.

MOVING TO SWITZERLAND

"When my parents decided to move from Germany to Switzerland in 2008, I kind of felt like the character Clara from Frankfurt in 'Heidi'. Sad to leave my friends behind, but also incredibly intrigued by the magic of this 'new beginning', of which I was little aware of how formative it would turn out to be. I thank Switzerland for the education I was lucky to receive, the friends I made and the feeling that belonging to two places makes it double – and not half as good."

GALLERY MEZZANIN

"Girl meets art world – I was 19 when I moved to Geneva (Switzerland) for my studies and subsequently started a position in a contemporary art gallery called Galerie Mezzanin. Working with artists like Sylvie Fleury, Martha Jungwirth, Isabella Ducrot and Thomas Bayrle has been all gas no brakes since the very first day. I always loved how their view of the world opened up worlds for me. Eventually, I lived in an apartment on the 2nd floor of the same building making me see the inside of my university less and less. 5 great years passed quickly, and when I think back, this was the start of it all."

VISITING CHINA

"Ever since I was a little kid, I had this obsession with China and read all the Geo Magazin articles my great-grandmother had accumulated over the years – stack upon stack of poison green magazines. I had to chance to travel through the country for 3 months in 2019 just before the pandemic hit and I think back of it every single day."

KLAUS & HANSAVIERTEL

"Klaus, my 96 y/o great-uncle moved to Berlin, when he was 80, because "he still wanted to have some fun". He lives at Hansaplatz in the Baldessari house  – a building with red stripes on each corner. A few years ago, we had this tradition of meeting each Sunday and took it in turns who put together the programme for the day, going for fancy cakes at Café Buchwald or a stroll through the Tiergarten. That's how I got to know (and love) the Hansaviertel area with its modernist architecture. A lush green island amidst the bustling city of Berlin, which I'm lucky to call home!"

"My version of 'A room of one's own' – GROTTO is very much a physical extension of my personality and a platform for all my amazing and talented friends (and friends to be!). It's a space for arts and culture a stone throw away from where we live. It's my refuge, my universe and my baby."

Leonie Herweg's daily essentials • 1 sluzzellin keychain with Antonia Nannt's Souvenir Edition • 2 Fendi Baguette bag • 3 Officine Universelle Buly travel toothbrush • 4 Gentle Monster sunglasses • 5 Museum für Moderne Kunst MMK lighter (she doesn't smoke) • 6 Muji pen in violet • 7 di luca comb from Milan • 8 Maison Louis Marie Vallée de Farney perfume oil • 9 bike light • 10 spearmint chewing gum • 11 Apple wired headphones • 12 beaded wallet from NYC (matching with her friend Gina Fischli)