Based in Turin (his gallery is nicknamed La fetta di polenta because that’s what the building’s shape and colour call to mind: a giant slice of polenta), Franco Noero, together with Pierpaolo Falone, his business partner since 2008, is a discreet yet influential force behind several prolific artists, including Tom Burr, Rob Pruitt and Simon Starling. He is in charge of the international representation of Mike Nelson, whose labyrinthine installation for the British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale this year had three-hour queues out front in its opening week.

Less difficult to enter, but just as pleasurable to see, was gallery artist Steven Shearer’s Canadian Pavilion, just next door. This has been a transformative year for Henrik Olesen – with a raved-about solo show at the Museum für Gegenwartskunst in a prime slot this summer – and for Pablo Bronstein, with shows at the Kunsthalle Charlottenburg and the ICA in London. Next year looks busy for homegrown talent Lara Favaretto, who will be included in Documenta 13 and has a solo exhibition at Rome’s MAXXI.