'Trusting that first reaction is important': Nacho Polo and Robert Onuska on the process of collecting

"Our first acquisition was Autolykos (2019) by the American artist Ron Gorchov. We were immediately drawn to his use of bent-wood canvases. They sit somewhere between painting and sculpture, which we've always found compelling. There's a quiet tension in his work, especially in how he handles colour, that really stayed with us and ultimately shaped how we think about collecting."

"Most recently, we acquired Nine Women 5 (2009) by Alex Katz. We've admired his work for a long time; there's something so confident and clear about his approach. It feels both timeless and very present. We're excited to finally have a piece by him as part of our collection."

"Usually quite quickly. It's a pretty instinctive process. There's often an immediate connection that's hard to explain. At the same time, the market moves fast, so trusting that first reaction is important."

"In 2018, they co-founded Studiotwentyseven, a design gallery dedicated to contemporary and experimental works, with spaces in Miami, New York and London. Their collection includes pieces by Yoshitomo Nara, Rashid Johnson, George Condo, Paola Pivi and Claudia Comte."

Nacho Polo and Robert Onuska build a collection centered on materiality and sculptural form, combining painting, sculpture, and photography within their Tribeca apartment. Their first acquisition was Ron Gorchov’s Autolykos (2019), chosen for bent-wood canvases that sit between painting and sculpture and create a quiet tension through color. Their most recent purchase was Alex Katz’s Nine Women 5 (2009), valued for its confident clarity and sense of being both timeless and immediate. They typically decide quickly based on an immediate connection, while recognizing that market speed requires trusting first reactions. They co-founded Studiotwentyseven in 2018, with spaces in Miami, New York, and London, and their collection includes works by Yoshitomo Nara, Rashid Johnson, George Condo, Paola Pivi, and Claudia Comte.

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