A Alicante art space opens to nurture local and international creators
An innovative art venue in Alicante emerges to fill a gap left by previous galleries and to offer a welcoming oasis during the city’s热 days. The new space invites visitors this Friday at 20:00, located at 20 Manuel Antón Street, where Venezuelan photographer Laura León has established a base after moving to Alicante two years ago. The opening event features a composite exhibition bringing together the work of fifteen artists.
Vearte positions itself as a hub where art, its makers, and the public converge. It operates as a gallery and exhibition platform while also hosting a small coffee area and a boutique selling crafts and design products. The founders describe Vearte as a place with a fresh concept that eases the stiffness some associate with galleries that also run shops and cafés. The goal is to show that collecting art can be accessible, not always expensive. The owner has three decades of experience in the Venezuelan art scene with the Vearte Foundation and Giotto Gallery, and believes in initiating collections around emerging artists.
León explains that moving to Spain was driven by the difficult situation in Venezuela. Her husband, a Spanish citizen from Logroño, initially hesitated after more than fifty years there, but the family eventually chose Alicante following the pandemic. They have built a circle of friends and relatives in the city and have spent two years exploring before opening the gallery.
In her view, the region lacked venues where artists could exhibit and sell their works. Public institutions exist, but showrooms are limited, and there are few places to present contemporary pieces in a continuous way. León concentrates mainly on Venezuelan artists but envisions a space that actively supports Alicante’s local creators as well. She emphasizes that the project is about creating opportunities for artists to display and sell their work in a welcoming environment.
Through contact with local artist Pepe Gimeno, León has connected with creators beyond Alicante. Gimeno introduces J. Aume Marzal, Marina Iborra, Reyes Caballero, Aurelia Masanet, Miguel Bañuls, and others, fostering a network that could expand gradually as more artists join the project.
Among the participants in the opening group exhibition is the Alicante-based Percival Grains. He describes a productive collaboration, having visited the artist’s workshop and seen a very high artistic level. Grains also mentions Las Cigarreras, a venue housing a collection of contemporary Valencian art, noting that the current program is strong and the work of the younger generation is promising.
Other contributors include Stefan Kotzev from Sofia, Elisabeth Marcadet and Lichta from France, Nicolas Boulette who has ties to the US and France, and several Venezuelan creators who have collaborated with León in their home country. Artists such as José Luis Aldana, Wilmer Escalante, Enrique Lobo, Víctor Asuaje, Rony Yépez, Bernardo Nieves, Álvaro Gómez, and Maria Fabiana Zapata are represented, along with sculptors Helene Yosse and Caroline Chapin. This mix reflects a global dialogue within the space.
The interior of the venue offers a contemporary study of photography, painting, and sculpture. Every artist presents one or two works in the exhibition room, which León describes as a bright but intimate space. Plans include later adding workshops and talks with visiting artists as part of a broader program. The aim is to foster ongoing dialogue among creators and art lovers alike.
León notes that the intention is to unite people who are passionate about contemporary art and culture, encouraging collaboration, inspiration, and exchange of ideas. The exhibition will run through September 17, after which a new rotation of works will take place. The space will welcome visitors Monday through Friday from roughly 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and again from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., offering a welcoming setting for the local and international art community to connect.