¡ARTE VIVA!

Arte Viva is an annual celebration of art that pays homage to the Hispanic community and culture through art exhibitions, dance performances and live music.

For its fifth annual celebration, COCO Art Gallery Naples hosted a reception to honor Carolina Albrizzio-López, a Venezuelan-born artist and who created the winning poster for Arte Viva. The reception brought together art enthusiasts, other fellow artists and community members to celebrate her work and recognize the role of Hispanic artists in Southwest Florida’s arts scene.

Through events like Arte Viva, art becomes a bridge between cultures and offers artists an opportunity to share their heritage and stories with the community. COCO Art Galley’s reception highlighted the importance of creating a space where diverse artistic voices can be recognized and celebrated.

As a Hispanic American, I was really excited to be at the reception and be a part of a meaningful moment. Celebrating an artist whose work reflects Hispanic culture and heritage felt very special – especially because I am Venezuelan as well. Albrizzio-Lopez’s attention to detail is my favorite aspect of her poster. The Florida imagery is very strong with the alligator and the swamp-like background. My personal favorite detail is the depiction of a grandmother and her granddaughter sitting at a dinner table, eating arepas, a traditional Venezuelan dish that is similar to a corn cake.

Ultimately, being at the reception reminded me of the importance of supporting Hispanic artists and recognizing the cultural contributions they bring to the art community to Southwest Florida.

Written by Natalia Nava, ACSWF Intern