The Sinergia collective, a group of women artists, unveils an evocative exhibition titled Art Made by Women in Dialogue with Urban Memory, to commemorate the founding of Asunción. Featuring the works of Norma Annicchiarico, Osvaldina Servián, Gloria Valle, and Carla Ascarza, the exhibition runs until 30 August, 2025, and is hosted at the Staudt Cultural Space. The building in Asunción’s historical centre is the headquarters of Paraguay’s National Secretariat of Culture.
The exhibition presents a compelling narrative of Asunción through the creative vision of the four artists. Their works, encompassing original paintings in varied formats and signed prints, offer diverse interpretations of the city’s essence, rooted in feminine perspectives. The restored venue at 333 Iturbe Street, Mcal. Estigarribia Street, provides an ideal backdrop for this celebration of cultural. and historical reflection.
Artistic voices of memory, and land
Norma Annicchiarico’s contributions to the exhibition are a homage to the land and its understated beauty. Her use of vivid colours and serene landscapes captures the rhythms of nature and the overlooked moments of daily life, inviting viewers to reconnect with the earth’s timeless presence.
Gloria Valle, in contrast, focuses on the intimate details of suburban life, portraying older women engaged in everyday activities such as cooking over a firewood stove or husking corn. Her warm palette and figurative style evoke nostalgia, celebrating the enduring practices that shape communal memory.
Osvaldina Servián’s works weave together geometry and tradition, creating a dynamic poetics of colour. Her paintings transform dance, popular music, and everyday objects into symbols of cultural identity. Through bold compositions, Servián reimagines Paraguay’s roots with a contemporary, feminine perspective, offering a powerful yet serene artistic voice.
Carla Ascarza’s pieces are imbued with symbolic weight and social critique. Her depictions of women, drawn from daily life, highlight themes of inequality, memory, and resilience. Ascarza’s work merges poetic sensitivity with a critical edge, presenting women as central figures in the narrative of urban and cultural identity.
Parallel exhibition activities
The exhibition is complemented by a series of public events designed to encourage interaction between artists, students, cultural managers, and the wider community. These activities aim to deepen the understanding of contemporary female art in Paraguay:
- Wednesday, 20 August: An open talk at 18:30 with guest illustrator Regina Rivas from the Robusta art collective, exploring the role of women in Paraguayan illustration, followed by a Q&A session.
- Thursday, 21 August: A discussion at 10:00 AM with students from the Instituto Superior de Bellas Artes, focusing on creative processes and experiences in the local art scene.
- Saturday, 23 August: An open talk at 18:00 with artist Ordúval Zarratea, themed Live Stroke, delving into the art of engraving.
Sinergia: A collective vision
The Sinergia collective, composed of accomplished visual artists, is dedicated to amplifying the voices of Paraguayan women in the contemporary art world. Through collaborative efforts and self-managed cultural initiatives, Sinergia fosters spaces for dialogue that challenge dominant narratives and reimagine urban and cultural identities.
Visitors are encouraged to experience this profound artistic dialogue at the Staudt Cultural Space. Admission to the exhibition is free, and it is open during business hours until 30 August, 2025.
For more information, follow Sinergia on Instagram. Read more about art in this article about Paraguayan graffiti artist Diestro: Making walls speak, and dreams live.
