About Us

Creating Change through Friendship and Community

Our Story

What started as a small festival on a college campus in Paris soon blossomed into an organization full of dedicated members. The group's purpose was to showcase Latin American art and creatives rarely shown in popular media. Titled "The Other Latin America," the organization still holds that commitment as part of our core mission. However, we often shorten the title to a simple acronym, LOLAB, so that it is easier to remember. The name may be occasionally shortened, but the vision has remained the same. We have continued to highlight Latinx talent while simultaneously expanded to include workshops, consultations, and much more.

Scroll down to learn more about our history, key organizational events, and current team members.

Key Events Through the Years

2016

Originally founded by Gabriela Acosta, LOLAB held its first contemporary art festival this year, marking its initial roots as a pillar in showcasing Latinx art.

2018

With the partnership of the organization Salve y Selva, LOLAB hosted its annual art festival at the historic cultural center La Bellevilloise. This event had the participation of 50 artists from 9 countries in varies art disciplines including tattoos, photography, paintings, audiovisual installations, cinema, live concerts, DJ sets, dance, theater, graffiti, and gastronomy.

2020

The team continued to expand, with a specialized teams now held in Paris and Berlin. The art festival this year was held at La Cité Fertile with the inclusion of vendor markets, DJ sets, and workshops for all ages.

2017

LOLAB hosted its first major event on the Sorbonne University campus that took place within the Semaine des Arts et des Médias of Paris III. This event had 10 participating artists from seven different countries with an attendance of over 200 people.

2019

One of the organizations founding members, Mónica Benavides stepped into the role of CEO after previously handling logistics and curation for the organization.

2021-2025

During this period, LOLAB continued to host events, workshops, and build new connections. Check out our past events tab for more information on our prior events.

2026

Marking 10 years of commitment to the Latinx diaspera, LOLAB continues to highlight Latinx artists around Europe. We've also expanded our team to members in even more countries!