New exhibition at Birkbeck’s Peltz Gallery explores ecology and art from indigenous communities
'Visions from the Amazon' showcases artistic perspectives on the Amazon rainforest, its communities, and its ecological significance.
Birkbeck’s Peltz Gallery, in Bloomsbury, London, will host Visions from the Amazon, an exhibition featuring Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists from the Amazon region. Running from 14 February to 9 April 2025, the exhibition is free to the public on weekdays from 10 AM to 8 PM.
Curated by Patricia Bonchristiano and Erika Zerwes, Visions from the Amazon highlights the complex interactions between human and more-than-human elements in the world’s largest rainforest. The exhibition features photography, painting, and film, offering a unique visual exploration of the ecological and cultural entanglements that define the Amazon. The exhibition is rooted in Bonchristiano’s doctoral research and developed in collaboration with Peltz Gallery, Birkbeck’s art gallery. The gallery isknown for showcasing interdisciplinary and experimental research, fostering artistic and academic dialogue.
The exhibition presents works by influential artists, including the renowned photographer and environmental activist Claudia Andujar, rubber tapper and painter Hélio Melo, and Indigenous artists Denilson Baniwa and Tayná Satere. Additional contributions come from photographers and filmmakers Paula Sampaio, Luciana Magno, Nay Jinknss, and Rosa Gauditano, whose works reflect the Amazon’s diverse landscapes and urban settlements. Through their art, these creators shed light on the environmental and social challenges facing the region and highlight the vital role of ecological activism in contemporary creative practice.
Accompanying the exhibition is a programme of events, including curator-led tours and an online artist discussion. Visitors can join curators on guided tours of the exhibition on 20 February, 13 March (with guest scholar Jamille Pinheiro Dias, Director of the Centre for Latin American & Caribbean Studies, University of London), and 20 March - all running from 5 to 6 PM. Additionally, on 10 March, from 5 to 7 PM, an online discussion will feature photographers Tayná Satere and Rosa Gauditano in conversation with Professor Luciana Martins, from Birkbeck. This event will be conducted in Portuguese with live English interpretation.
Advance booking is recommended for all events.