Piccolo Portrait 003 – Mattias & Galerie Storm

 

PASSION, FRIENDSHIP & INSPIRATIONAL HABITS

Piccolo Portrait 003 and our meeting with Mattias Storm is a very special and personal one. Although our friendship is quite new, I share a deep understanding and admiration for both his work and personal life.

These kind of meetings and friendships are very much the driving force behind my own and BLUGIALLO’S creative processes like design, culture and product development. People have always been our number one source of inspiration and why we continue our Piccolo Portrait path. I hope you’ll enjoy this Portrait as much as myself and our amazing CD Mikael loved making it.

Alexander, Author & Co-Founder BLUGIALLO

THE BIO OF:

Mattias Storm

A PICCOLO PORTRAIT No. 003
Age: Thirties with kids
Occupation: Painter & Creative Entrepreneur
Passions: Art, Entrepreneurship, Books & Long-lunches
Painting Style: Abstracts
First BLUGIALLO garment: Soft Jacket w/ cashmere & silk knitwear & heavy cotton trousers

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Creativity and Entrepreneurship. Art and Business. In one way, Mattias line of work represents a perfect storm of contrasts, allowing him to draw inspiration from a variety of people, places and ambiances. He is a passionate entrepreneur, business professional and artist at the same time.

Mattias co-founded Galerie Storm with his wife, Carolina, as a platform to merge their creative visions. While Mattias navigates between his role as an Operating Partner at a private equity firm and his artistic endeavors, Galerie Storm stands as the couple’s shared passion—a reflection of art, design, and personal expression.

At first glance, Galerie Storm might seem like just another contemporary gallery, but beneath the surface, it represents so much more. For Mattias, art isn’t just a passion; it’s been a vital part of his life, offering a space for mindfulness and reflection during times of personal challenges or simply to find harmony. His minimalist, yet emotionally charged works are inspired by the interplay of stillness and movement— “much like the calm under the surface when you dive beneath a wave”, as he him self puts it.

The Artistic Journey

Mattias’s journey as a painter began at an early age, he grew up with a natural interest and talent if you will, for painting. Despite this he didn’t make it a part of his professional career until about four years ago. It was during a particularly difficult period for his family that Mattias found solace in art. He would rise early—5 a.m., to be exact—and paint in a small atelier in his residential building before heading off to work. “These early mornings were filled with creativity and quiet reflection, and it became the perfect start to my day”, he says.

Mattias’s works are often minimalist, dominated by contrasts between stillness and movement. The use of a palette knife rather than a brush adds an element of surprise to his pieces, making each stroke feel like an act of discovery. He compares the process to “When you create a batik shirt, and where you can never quite predict the final outcome.” This isn’t a process I can relate to myself as Mattias explains, but I love the analogy at the same time as I find it quite amusing.

I get this excitement of unpredictability that Mattias describes, and he puts it even better when he says that “I creates a feeling of being both creator and observer at the same time.”

The way he paints also mirrors the lessons he’s learned from entrepreneurship: not every piece of work will turn out as a masterpiece, but every experience teaches you something. Much like building a company, creating art is about moving forward, experimenting, and learning from mistakes. It’s not about the pursuit of perfection; it’s about the process.

Galerie Storm: A Fusion of Art and Entrepreneurship

Galerie Storm, located on Runebergsgatan in Stockholm, is more than just a gallery space. It’s the manifestation of Mattias and Carolina’s creative partnership. As serial entrepreneurs with backgrounds in media, lifestyle, and design, the couple dreamed of creating a space that would fuse Carolina’s eye for curation with Mattias’s artistic vision.

The gallery serves as a platform not only for showcasing Mattias art “but also for fostering creativity in others”, Mattias says. The future vision for Galerie Storm includes expanding beyond its current location, hosting workshops, and offering mentorship for other artists and creatives. In many ways, Galerie Storm is a natural extension of Mattias and Carolina’s entrepreneurial spirit—a space where creativity and business meet.

The Art of Balance: From Finance to Fine Art

The there is the art of balance, and in Mattias day-to-day life, this means the corporate world of private equity and the creative world of Galerie Storm. As an Operating Partner at private equity firm Triton, his wardrobe reflects the nature of his roles. In the office, Mattias is often seen in dark suits and formal attire—an environment where uniformity still reigns to a degree. Yet even in this structured world, he finds room for personal expression.

“I quite like the concept of  a uniform”, he says. “It allows for a focus on other ways to stand out—through actions, conversations, and how you interact with other people”, he continues. This means Mondays at the office are marked by dark suits, but at Galerie Storm, Mattias embraces a more relaxed style as he can naturally wear whatever he likes.

Getting to know Mattias and his preferences, I would would define his style by a balance between formal and casual. His influences can range from well-dressed colleagues to the British royal family (as he has a particular softness for knee-high rubber boots and waxed jackets). But he also values clothing that allows him to move seamlessly between his different roles—whether he’s picking up his kids from school or meeting clients at the gallery. “I don’t like the concept of changing clothes to go pick up my kids”, he says. An analogy parents to kids at a certain age will easily understand. But rather than changing style and comfort, he trusts the quality of what he wears to handle the situation (perhaps with a certain awareness of the choice of color though..).

"The best outfit a man can wear, is green rubber boots, white trousers, and an oil jacket"

The Philosophy of Style

Clothing, for Mattias, is more than just an outward expression—it’s a reflection of inner calm and confidence. “The best outfit a man can wear,” he says, “is green boots, white trousers, and an oil jacket,” drawing inspiration from the timeless style of the British aristocracy.

In his younger years, Mattias felt a stronger need to express himself through fashion, but as he’s grown older, he’s come to realize that style is more about how you carry yourself. It’s about the confidence to wear what feels right for you, whether that’s a perfectly tailored suit or a pair of well-worn boots. The key, as Mattias sees it, is to be comfortable and to let your clothes enhance your personality without overshadowing it. We couldn’t agree more.

Forward Motion: Art, Entrepreneurship, and Life

Both his art and his entrepreneurial ventures are about moving forward—constantly learning, improving, and evolving. Whether it’s a new painting or a business idea, the focus is always on personal growth rather than perfection.

Getting to know Mattias, I think that Galerie Storm represents that strive very well. And to some degree it is the perfect fusion between business and creativity—a place where finance and fine art meet. Two different worlds that have always been intrigued by each other it seems.

As Mattias (and Carolina) continues to build Galerie Storm, he also seems to find a “balanced obsession” and commitment to his family, art, and his belief that forward motion—whether in life, business, or art—is the key to a success life.

The kind of success that is not monetary, but rather one of knowing how to balance family, relations, his passion and well-being in the best possible way.

Thank you, Mattias