As you may have noticed, exciting times are afoot for the Discovering Latin America Visual Arts team. We have been working feverishly over the past couple of months to bring together our key event for 2010 and the team’ first since Fernando Botero’s fantastic gala evening in March 2009.

The occasion? Ceramicist Nicholas Arroyave-Portela’s ground-breaking solo exhibition at London’s Contemporary Applied Arts gallery. Nicholas has very kindly created three unique and exclusive ceramic vessels for us to auction during the show, which runs until August 21st. Nowadays he works primarily on sculptural wall-hangings such as those featured in the exhibition, however smaller vessels such as these are what helped gain Nicholas recognition early in his career. Thus we are delighted to be able to present such special pieces in our silent bid auction.


The three beautiful vessels Nicholas has made for our auction  

We recently caught up with Nicholas to find out a bit more about the exhibition, his views on Latin American culture in the UK, and of course why he is choosing to support Discovering Latin America at this important point in his career:

In the artist’s words:

“I’ve lived in London now for 16 years and I’ve been aware now of a growing community of Latin Americans in London… For me personally, growing up, as a child, there wasn’t very much visibility of Latin American culture. There wasn’t very much that I go and could see, or discover...

“To be involved with Discovering Latin America and the projects that you do, is incredible in as much that I know that my dad would be really proud to have been able to give back… for his son to be getting involved in that way.”

Watch more of our interview here:

Nicholas Arroyave-Portela’s exhibition, ‘Todo Sobre Mi Padre’ runs at London’s Contemporary Applied Arts gallery until August 21. We hope to see you there!

If you or someone you know is interested in placing a bid, please download a postal bidding form or pick one up CAA. Bids will be accepted until the auction closes on 21 August.

Contemporary Applied Arts
2 Percy Street
London W1T 1DD

www.caa.org.uk