Paraíso
Paraíso Latin American Art Fair showcases extraordinary new Latin American art practices along with art produced over the last hundred years during London’s October art week in a central location.
Paraíso is an initiative by Javier Calderón, founder and director of Somers Gallery, and who, for over 15 years, has championed Latin American Art in the UK and British art in Latin America.
Paraíso’s mission is to be the premier Latin American Art Fair and to create new levels of collaboration between Latin American communities and the World.
A New Dawn for Latin American Art in the UK
The UK’s engagement with Latin American art has transformed significantly, progressing from a sporadic existence of Latin American artists and exhibitions to a significant presence within the British art scene. This interest is evidenced by its expansion to public and private collections as well as growing academic intrigue.
While Latin American art in the UK has seen previous dedicated platforms, such as Pinta art fair, the landscape has since matured. We are no longer in a phase of mere introduction, but one of deep integration and sophisticated demand. Today’s opportunity lies in moving beyond the ‘niche’ and positioning Latin American creators as essential protagonists on the global stage.
A great deal has been achieved, but there is much more to do considering the richness and diversity of practices. This is evidenced in the work of great living
artists as well as artists who are no longer alive but have left us art of the highest universal value, deserving of global attention.
Although there are many reasons to celebrate the amplification of Latin American art in the UK over the last few decades, there remains work to be done to truly cement the status of Latin America Art in the UK and beyond.
Paraíso emerged to cement what has been achieved, and to foster a new and unprecedented presence of Latin American art in the UK. Additionally, Paraíso aims to create new avenues of collaboration between the UK and Latin America