All Roads Lead to Rome

        They aren’t lying when they say all roads lead to Rome. In January 2024, a group of artists, designers, and creatives of various nationalities met in the Eternal City, sharing the same desire: to express and showcase what they could do. Spontaneously, they organized a multidisciplinary art exhibition in March. Titled ‘Oltre La Pelle’ (Beyond the Skin), it included painting, digital art, ceramics, performances, poetry readings, and live music. What they didn’t know, however, was that this one-day event would mark the beginning of ColabArt. 

        ColabArt is an independent cultural association that aims to promote emerging and international artists in Rome. Currently made up of around 12 volunteers (mostly immigrants), this project was born out of the need to create their own spaces in a territory that may initially feel foreign but which, through art and collaboration, becomes a home. To date, ColabArt has held three art exhibitions: Oltre La Pelle (March 16), Solstizio D’Estate (Summer Solstice) (from June 22 to July 29), and C’era una Volta (Once Upon a Time) (from October 4 to October 11). 

        Each of these exhibitions took place in different locations and included more than 30 artists from around 10 different nationalities. C’era una Volta, its latest opening, is an invitation to return to the origin, to the place where stories begin, and to share where we come from. Featuring 12 artists from Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Ireland, and France, among others, and curated by Camila Suárez, Greta Baldi, and María José Félix, this exhibition captivated the audience with its creative simplicity. 

        In less than a year, ColabArt has demonstrated the power of self-management when a good team comes together. Although it may seem obvious, we sometimes forget that self-management is essentially about making things happen; it’s about creating the necessary conditions to bring meaningful projects to life. And when you’re young, in a foreign city with a different language, where no one knows you and you’re just starting out, the only option is to take risks and start weaving the networks that will allow these conditions to thrive. 

        With this spirit, ColabArt seeks to build a community that fosters collaboration and empowers artists. So far, it has taken small but significant steps: giving young artists their first opportunity to exhibit, encouraging the creation of new works based on curatorial concepts, establishing connections with embassies, and providing professional practice for cultural managers, among others. 

        After this journey, which has only just begun, ColabArt promises, in the medium term, to become a hybrid platform that not only promotes emerging international artists but also contributes to the expansion of the contemporary Roman art scene, which is growing rapidly. Thus, ColabArt is the result of the fortuitous meeting of an incredible group of strangers who, like pieces of a puzzle, found each other in Rome. What follows is an ever-evolving, always surprising story.