Champagne, Concept Art, and Conspiracy Theories: Inside the Exclusive Opening of La Cotorra Gallery

3 Apr 2026

This translation captures the sophisticated yet witty tone of the original social column for a British English audience, maintaining all image structures and captions. Headline: Champagne, Concept Art, and Conspiracy Theories: Inside the Exclusive Opening of La Cotorra Gallery Sub-headline: Valencia’s social scene receives a high-octane upgrade as the city’s newest art hub debuts on Calle Editor Cabrerizo.

The phrase "Valencia social life" doesn't usually inspire high expectations. However, the opening of the trendy new La Cotorra art gallery in the city centre proved to be a delightful exception. La Cotorra columnist Sofia Katenina attended the private view and reports on the evening’s highlights.

On the evening of 1 April, the quiet street of Editor Cabrerizo was transformed by an unexpectedly glamorous crowd. Glancing through the arriving guests, one could spot the renowned sculptor and performance artist Pepe Romero, prominent bankers, Spanish entrepreneurs, numerous international artists, and members of Spain’s aristocratic elite.

Alexis Alemany and family — Alexis Alemany (artist), his wife Ana and daughters Iris and Avril, with María Hernández-Reinoso, art historian and cultural guide.

"Where are you from?"—The answers to this question were wonderfully varied. Guests travelled from the UK, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and France specifically for the opening of Valencia’s newest art hub.

An elegant drinks reception featuring golden magnums of Moët Imperial and rosé champagne provided the perfect catalyst for international conversation and artistic appreciation.

Inna Krause, performer and visual artist.

The gallery, equipped with professional museum-grade lighting, is divided into two spacious halls. The first featured works in the "Magic Realism" style by the celebrated Valencian painter Álex Alemany. The artist's classical technique and his "White Series" set a philosophical, yet distinctly lyrical, mood for the evening.

María Hernández-Reinoso, art historian and cultural guide, pictured in front of a painting by her late husband Álex Alemany (1943-2021), a master of the Magic Realism school.

A particular focal point was the diptych by Aidan Salakhova (Azerbaijan), which drew Russian-speaking artists like an icon for frequent photographs.

"Is Aidan coming?" became the second most-asked question of the night. It was a clear sign that faith in Valencia’s social standing was beginning to be restored. Though Aidan remained in Carrara, Tuscany, she sent the gallery her warmest wishes for the opening via the internet.

The second hall, which quickly attracted a queue of enthusiasts, featured a lighting installation rarely seen in modern galleries. Every 20 seconds, ultraviolet lamps flickered on, inadvertently highlighting the expensive veneers of the smiling guests. However, the true purpose of the lamps was conceptual: the SKST art collective—taking their name from a triangular Starbucks dessert—brought a heavy dose of conceptualism to the gallery. On display was a hauntingly relevant meditation on the future. For example, under normal light, a painting might show a space module designed for human colonisation of other planets (a nod to Elon Musk). But under UV light, a darker truth emerges: our planet has simply been sold to aliens, and the colonisation is part of the deal.

Fernando Giner, President of the Valencia CF Alumni Association.

Alfonso Manglano Beneyto, Spanish entrepreneur and public figure, member of the prominent Manglano aristocratic family.

Helena Sage, lawyer and patron of the arts (Poland).

Ernesto Zamorano, law firm co-owner and socialite.

Raquel Bermudez Brazon (Madrid), founder of the jewelry brand Zenplicity.

Helena Sage and Kate Shramko — Helena Sage (Poland) and Kate Shramko, Research Fellow at Imperial College London (UK).

Dr. Jota, aesthetic medicine specialist and sculptor (Valencia), with guest.

Representatives from the cultural tourism company Turiart (Valencia).

Guests — Rosario Espinosa, Professor of Private International Law at the University of Valencia; Ruth Vivas, Associate Professor of Germanic Languages at the University of Valencia; Ana Guijarro, pharmaceutical industry representative.

Alexander Khromov, owner of Dr Robot Gallery (Valencia), with guest.

Ernesto and Dorjan — Ernesto Zamorano, law firm co-owner (Valencia), and Dorjan Shabani, graphic design MA, artist, and calligrapher from Tehran (Iran).

Igor and Lola — Igor Lizura, Senior Engineering Manager (Kyriba), and Lola Trapsh, Executive Search (Paris).

Tatiana and Marat — Tatiana Khrylova, journalist and guide, with husband Marat Abdrakhmanov, sommelier and the world's first Russian-speaking certified specialist in Valencian wines.

Ana Marques Aparicio, banker (BBVA), with her son.

Pepe and Sergio — Sculptor and visual artist Pepe Romero and his husband Sergio.

Art lovers from the Digital Nomads and EdTech sectors.

Following a round of toasts, the artists held an "Artist Talk" to briefly explain their creative process in English. Some guests absorbed every word; others headed straight for the third part of the exhibition—an Augmented Reality (AR) visual installation. Donning headphones and clutching iPads, they interacted with art in a specially modelled room resembling a cross between a sleek office and an "escape room." By pointing their iPads at various objects, guests were plunged into the world of conspiracy theories, emerging looking quite unsettled.

Guest with iPad

SKST Artists — Artists of the Strawberry Kiss Sweet Trinity (SKST) collective: Petr Voznesenskiy, Olga Lukyanova, Artem Timonov (*est. 2025, unbased geographically*).

"I’ve never seen people drink quite this much champagne at a gallery opening," a catering representative whispered with a note of respect.

Empirically, it seems, the profound influence of conceptual art on the human psyche has finally been proven.

The exhibition opens to the general public on 3 April. Hours: 10:00 – 20:00. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Until 7 April, the installation artists will be available on-site for discussions in Russian or English. Entry is free.

Gallery Address: Editor Cabrerizo, 5 bajo