A Prelude to One Hundred Years of Latin American Art
15 to 18 of October 2026
PV: 14 October 4 – 11 pm
Ambika P3. 35 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LS
Paraiso is an exclusive showcase of Latin American art celebrated parallel to Frieze London from 14 – 18th October 2026. Bringing together new art and site specific installations alongside historic art created within the last one hundred years and which has not seen the light in the UK. The programme also includes live performances, talks and the presentation of other initiatives focused on Latin American Art
Invitation to Galleries and Institutions
For the first edition we are inviting galleries and institutions to present art works produced within the last one hundred years.
Site specific installations are welcome as the space gives the possibilities of creating monumental works. The architecture of the central space can be modified radically with structures such as scaffolding.
Spaces will be allocated depending on proposals. This can be just a single wall or an open space of variable dimensions.
Galleries or Institutions don’t necessarily need to be based in Latin America but the artists must be a clear representative of Latin America.
Selection committee
Invitations are considered by a selection committee led by Helena Lugo, Director of Terremoto magazine in Latin America and Javier Calderón, director of Somers Gallery in London supported by a wide network of curators, collectors and academics.
COSTS
There’s a symbolic charge of £500 £1,000 and £2,000 for the first edition.
The work can be available for sale or just for exhibition.
Walk the space virtually by following the link below: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=uqSYTWaXpti
Key dates
Invitation opens Saturday 31 January 2026
Deadline for Submissions: 6 April 2026
Dates to announce selected proposals: 20 April 2026
Installation dates: Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 October 2026.
Deinstallation Monday: 19 October 10 to 6 pm 2026.
Insurance
Ambika provides general security and public liability insurance for the venue. However, galleries must carry their own insurance for the transit, installation, and exhibition of their specific artworks.
Paraiso is an initiative by Javier Calderón, founder and director of Somers Gallery.
Somers Gallery was established in 2015 as a project space under the name of Chalton Gallery by Javier Calderon. In 2022 the gallery changed its name to Somers Gallery. Chalton Gallery championed mainly Mexican and British artists while Somers Gallery is focused on Latin American and British art.
Somers Gallery‘s mission is to be the premier gallery of Latin American Art In the UK and to create new levels of collaboration between British and Latin American communities.
For partnerships and opportunities contact: Javier Calderón: javier@somersgallery.com
Paraiso
The UK’s engagement with Latin American art has transformed significantly, progressing from sporadic existence of Latin American artists and exhibitions focused on Latin American art to a significant presence in the British art scene. There has also been a steady increase in public and private collections and academic interests have also gained serious interest.
“While the path for Latin American art in the UK has seen previous dedicated platforms, such as the 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 lot has been achieved but there’s much more to do considering the richness and vast diversity of practices of great living artists as well as artists who are no longer alive but have left us art of the highest Universal value which deserves global attention.
Paraiso emerged to strengthen what has been achieved and to foster new and unprecedented levels of presence of Latin American art in the UK as well as to create new levels of collaboration between the UK and Latin America.