Artworks by internationally renowned artists have been secured by the University of Essex Collection of Latin American Art (UECLAA) thanks to its close links with the organisers of the first ever PINTA Modern and Contemporary Latin American Art Show in London
UECLAA was academic partner for London PINTA at Earls Court Exhibition Centre, which was attended by more than 2,000 private and public collectors from across the world and a further 4,000 public visitors.
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Tate Modern and the Pompidou Centre in Paris were among the internationally renowned museums which bought work at PINTA with UECLAA also purchasing eight important pieces with the support of the show’s Museums Acquisition Programme.
UECLAA assistant director Dr Joanne Harwood said: ‘This is the first time PINTA has come to London after successfully running for three years in New York. UECLAA’s Directors pioneered the study and teaching of Latin American art in the UK, so we were delighted to contribute to the success of the show.
‘Our selection for the Museums Acquisition Programme allowed us to purchase important work which will build on our Collection’s significant international reputation for modern and contemporary Latin American art.’
UECLAA used a legacy of £7,000 to acquire three historical works and two contemporary works with PINTA providing matching funds through the acquisitions programme.
This included a pair of works by Argentinian artist Ana Sacerdote, a small painting by Uruguayan Gastón Olalde and two works by Mexican Demián Flores.
PINTA’s directors also donated a further three works to UECLAA by Puerto Rican artist Michael Linares.
Dr Harwood and UECLAA Learning and Access Officer Miriam Metliss developed the show’s public programme in partnership with Dr Isobel Whitelegg, research fellow at the University of the Arts Research Centre for Transitional Art, Identity and Nation (TrAIN).
The programme organised by UECLAA included talks, tours and discussions involving leading international curators, artists and experts on Latin American Art including UECLAA director Professor Dawn Ades, from the University of Essex’s Department of Art History and Theory.
The UECLAA team also had a stand at the show which allowed them to display specially commissioned artist editions alongside 50 other leading international galleries. UECLAA Artist Editions on display included work by Ofelia Rodríguez, Fanny Sanín, Jaime Gili, Cinthya Soto and Florencia Guillen.
A Sound Archive Project with the London-based Latin American Youth Forum was also co-ordinated by UECLAA which gathered the views on the artworks and the fair from visitors including gallery owners and cultural attachés. This project was funded by a Knowledge Transfer Innovation Grant from the University.
Ms Metliss said: “We have had incredible feedback from our audiences who really enjoyed the public programme and the involvement of the Youth Forum. People seemed to like the breadth of the talks and students we spoke to said they got lots of fresh ideas for their research.”
Alejandro Zaia, Chairman of London Pinta Art Show, said: “This first PINTA in London has surpassed all our expectations and those of the interested parties. The quality of the presentation, the level of the attendees, and the successful sales proved that this was the right moment to launch this project in Europe”.