Meet Gabriela Avila | Art Promoter, Curator & Museologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gabriela Avila and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gabriela, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
Don’t make friends who are comfortable to be with. Make friends who will force you to lever yourself up. (Thomas J.Watson, ((1874-1956)) This particular phrase is one of several that sparks my drive and creativity. I believe that the meaning behind the message carries beyond its pertinence to friends and acquaintances. The message as a whole is applicable to what we do day to day. It is my strongly held belief that one should challenge oneself as often as and whenever possible. The challenge could be as simple as taking part in a challenging conversation and exploring new ideas. I’ve always carried this and other phrases with me throughout my entrepreneurial career and employ them with my team. I try to surround myself with brilliant people who also have that same spark and who love what they do. In my view there are no small tasks, each goal accomplished by one of my team members makes everyone else’s job all the easier. My team inspires me to be a better leader. They force me to lever up.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I can honestly say that the road hasn’t been as challenging for me as it has been for others. Of course, it has not been without its ups and downs but the lessons I’ve taken away have proven to be extremely valuable and that alone makes all the work worth it. It can be very challenging to convince others to support artistic programs. Art is beautiful but it is not a product that people necessarily acquire every day. Art must be understood in order for one to connect with it and appreciate the work required to bring an idea into reality. The difficulty associated with promoting art demands one’s passion, dedication, and sacrifice, often with little or nothing in return. Although I am an art producer, my forte is in curating, museography, Event Organization and Planning, and as advisor to art collectors. In addition, I have had the great fortune of studying and living abroad in the Netherlands, Japan, France, Spain, Canada, Switzerland, and in my birth country of Mexico. This provided me with a tremendous life experience of living amongst a wide array of cultures. It enriched not only my perspective but introduced to me new ideas that then introduced me to more and more opportunities. I would not claim to have a world perspective but my experience has enabled me to continuously learn, adapt, and evolve. . An obstacle I’ve often encountered is that of convincing artists that the proposal being presented will benefit them, that storing art in their workshops defeats its purpose, and that the showing of their work is important for their future success as artists. Personally, I am very driven with a sharp focus on detail, which has helped me to fulfill many of my personal and professional goals. I think that people like me, in general, can be persistent and maybe even stubborn. Whenever we have an idea, we do not stop until we see it through to its successful end to the greatest extent possible. What I would say to anyone who, like me, is working towards realizing an entrepreneurial dream is that; if you truly want to achieve a goal, stopping or giving up is not an option. You must identify and take advantage of all and every path you find along the way. Some will be long and complicated, others fast and simple. The important thing is to stay focused on the goal. Do not let anything or anyone stop you.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Encinitas is one of my favorite places for a combination of things: warm sun, beautiful beaches, friendly and conscientious neighbors, all of which create a unique vibe. I think I would take my friend to the Self Realization Fellowship Hermitage, Meditation Gardens, Swami’s Beach, “D Street Beach, walking along Hwy 101, and visiting all the local shops and boutiques. For lunch we can go to Qero, a restaurant specializing in Peruvian cuisine. We would also swing by the San Diego Botanical Garden, Lux Museum, and the Leucadia Farmer’s Market.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It would be really unfair to credit a single person for what motivates and inspires me. For those things that inspire me I would definitely include: my daughters, husband, and my work team as well as my mentor and business partner, artist Aida Valencia. However I assign the greatest recognition for personal inspiration to feeling and knowing that I can be depended upon, not owing to a particular title but rather because those who trust me truly believe in my abilities. The autonomy they provide enables me to push the envelope and never back down from a challenge. That’s the greatest motivator of all for me. As for an author who inspires me, I think I would have to name the Mexican author Xavier Velasco, winner of the 2003 Premio Alfaguara. I was particularly moved by how his steadfast and unyielding pursuit, fueled by his belief in himself, ultimately resulted in his winning the Alfaguara award in 2003 with his book, “Diablo Guardian.”

Website: www.latinamericanartfairsd.com
Instagram: latinamericanartfair
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriela-avila-5ab11a2a/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latinamericanartfair
Youtube: Latin American Art Fair San Diego

Image Credits
Photographer Manuel Cruces Camberos Latin American Art Fair 2018 & 2019