Venezuelan Artists Come Together

With over 50,000 people still missing in Venezuela after two deadly earthquakes, artists on the ground are mobilizing even as they navigate their own grief. They are aiding in rescue efforts, sourcing food and medical supplies, raising funds for affected loved ones, and providing much-needed emotional support. Senior Editor Valentina Di Liscia spoke with members of Venezuela’s art sector, who share stories of pain and resilience.

More below, including Mayor Mamdani’s record budget for the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and 10 art shows you should see in Los Angeles this month. We also remember Venezuelan painter Onai Quiñonez and others we lost in the art community this week.

—Lakshmi Rivera Amin, associate editor

After Earthquakes, Venezuela’s Artists Turn to Each Other

Artist Gloria Blancato was asleep in her bedroom on the early evening of June 24 when she was abruptly awakened by violent tremors. The shaking was so strong that the panes of her windows shattered, exploding into glass shards on her bedspread as the walls collapsed around her.

She held on tightly to the doorknob, the ground quivering beneath her, before finding a pair of shoes, slipping them on, and jumping out the window of the two-story building in the port city of Catia La Mar in La Guaira. Her feet are still swollen and her legs bruised from running among the debris, and she and her family have been sleeping outside for the last week.

“I send this with my eyes filled with tears,” Blancato said in a text message in Spanish to her friends. “I love you, don’t forget me.”

Hyperallergic spoke to Blancato and other artists and cultural workers affected by the disaster. | Valentina Di Liscia

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