Cecilia Brunson Projects to focus on Latin American art and is opening a gallery in Chile

Following on from its successful programme of introducing outstanding historical and mid-career artists to the European market (Willys de Castro, Alfredo Volpi, Claudio Tozzi, Josefina Guilisasti, Coco Fusco, Cristián Silva) the gallery will focus entirely on showcasing work from Latin American artists. For many of the artists this will be the first time their work has been shown in Europe. Though well respected in their own country, some have been overlooked here. The gallery seeks to redress this balance and give Latin American artists their deserved exposure in Europe. Highlights of the upcoming programme include: Waltercio Caldas, Jaime Gili, Antonio Dias and Leonilson.

Alongside this, the gallery will be opening an outpost in Santiago, Chile. ‘It is important for me, as a Chilean, that the gallery’s links to Latin America are concrete and we have a free flow from there. The gallery in Santiago represents our deep commitment to the artists of the continent.’ (Cecilia Brunson). In January 2017 the gallery will have exhibitions of the Chilean artist Cesar Gablar at both the London and Santiago galleries.**

The directors of the gallery, Cecilia Brunson and Paula Cruz, have extensive knowledge of the Latin American art scene between them.

Over the last two decades Latin American art has been Cecilia Brunson’s passion, as a curator, critic and author. In 2001 she was Exhibition Coordinator at The Americas Society, New York, where she organised exhibitions including the first US show of Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzadilla and ‘Pictures of You: Contemporary Art from Mexico’. From 2004 she was Associate Curator of Latin American Art at the Blanton Museum of Austin, Texas, curating exhibitions including ‘Marking Time 1995 – 2005: Contemporary Art from Chile’ and was also responsible for all Latin American acquisitions for the museum’s collection. In 2005, she founded INCUBO, a not-for-profit residency programme for international curators based in Santiago, Chile, working with the likes of Dan Cameron and Nicholas Bourriad. In 2009, Cecilia co-founded the AMA Fellowship, an annual grant enabling a Chilean artist to participate in Gasworks Residency Program, London. She was also an advisor to Pinta, London at this time. Other curated exhibitions include ‘Tectonic Shift: Contemprary Art from Chile from the Juan Yarur Collection’ at the Saatchi Gallery and Phillips du Pury, ‘Claudio Girola’ at the Museo Rufino Tamayo, Mexico and ‘Luis Camnitzer: 1968 Massacre of Puerto Montt’ at Galería Metropolitana, Santiago, Chile. She has published articles in Artforum, where she was Latin American Correspondent.

Paula Cruz has extensive knowledge of modern and contemporary Brazilian and Latin American art. She spent many years working in the contemporary art world in Sao Paulo including working at Oscar Cruz Gallery in Sao Paulo, where she oversaw the exhibition programme.