Iwan Wirth and Manuela Hauser, Art, Debrett's 500 2015, People

Iwan Wirth and Manuela Hauser

INTERNATIONAL GALLERISTS AND COLLECTORS

Swiss-born Iwan Wirth has been judged even more influential than the likes of Charles Saatchi or François Pinault of Christie’s, coming fourth on the ArtReview’s Power 100. Born in the foothills of the Alps, Wirth opened his first gallery while still at school and sold his first painting aged 16. He founded the hugely influential contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth in 1992 along with Manuela Hauser (now his wife), herself an important art collector, and her mother Ursula Hauser. Today, he has opened more Hauser & Wirth galleries across the world, in London, New York, Somerset and Los Angeles, and in 2011 was voted the most important contemporary art dealer in Europe. He currently lives with his family in London.