Bella Ramón is an MA Art and Business student at the Courtauld Institute with a background in Art History from the University of St Andrews. Her research examines the ways market categories are constructed and contested, themes that anchor her dissertation on the rise and fall of the dedicated Latin American art auction sale in the United States.
Alongside her studies, Bella has gained experience across the commercial gallery and art advisory sectors, as well as independently curating a private exhibition on Uruguayan artist Mario Giacoya, marking his second show in the USA. Of Uruguayan heritage herself, she brings a personal investment to her work, driven by a commitment to increasing the visibility of Latin American and Latinx artists and to critically examining the structures that have determined whose work reaches the international art market, and on what terms.
Rea Tonelli is an MA Art and Business student at the Courtauld Institute with a background in Art History and Business from George Washington University. Her interdisciplinary foundation reflects her interest in the relationship between creative practice and strategic thinking, and the ways in which they shape the contemporary art world. Her research centres emerging art markets and the ways in which new cultural economies are formed, particularly in post-communist contexts.
Rea’s experiences across gallery, museum, and non-profit settings have given her a broad understanding of the art world beyond the classroom. Her curiosity and love of learning shape her approach to every opportunity, as she continues to explore innovative approaches to contribute to a more accessible and inclusive art world.
In June 2026, we organised a photography and moving-image showcase that brought together emerging artists from across London’s art schools called I’m Nobody! Who Are You?
The idea for the showcase began from conversations about a gap we noticed within the student arts community. Living with two photographers, Bella often heard their frustration that there were few student-led opportunities dedicated to exhibiting photography and moving-image work. This absence is perhaps unsurprising given photography’s complex history within the art world, where it has often struggled to receive the same institutional recognition or prestige as more traditional mediums such as painting. Yet today, we believe lens-based practices provide some of the most compelling ways to engage with the anxieties, joys, and complexities of contemporary life. It is also a medium that we both care deeply about. We share a longstanding personal interest in analogue photography, and much of our academic work in art history has focused on the histories and innovations of photographic practice.
For these reasons, instead of waiting for someone else to make it happen, we decided to create our own event where emerging artists could present their work and connect with others in our community. So we launched an open call and got to work figuring out what it would take to bring the showcase to life!
Organising the showcase challenged us to bring the skills and knowledge we gained through our MA Art and Business programme beyond the comfort of a classroom and into a real-world setting. Through the course, co-led by Stephanie Dieckvoss and Tom Stammers, we gained insight into both the history of the art market and the business structures that shape the contemporary art world. Our classes, together with hearing directly from gallerists, artists, and other industry professionals, provided an invaluable foundation. Planning the showcase allowed us to translate these ideas into practice, from coordinating with artists and managing logistics to overseeing installation and promotion. One speaker in particular, however, inspired us to take the first step.
During a talk with our cohort, Courtauld alumnus Jeremy Epstein, co-founder of Edel Assanti Gallery, reflected on organising pop-up exhibitions with friends and fellow artists early in his career. His emphasis on creating opportunities, no matter how underprepared you feel, resonated with us. His message was simple: stay hungry. The showcase grew from that same spirit of entrepreneurship and initiative.
The biggest lesson we took away from this experience is the importance of just going for it! Neither of us had undertaken a project like this before, and seeing our idea slowly develop into a successful public exhibition is something we are incredibly proud of. While we made mistakes along the way, we realised the importance of trusting our instincts and remaining flexible as things inevitably do not go to plan. Ultimately, this gave us a confidence that could only come from having to make decisions under pressure and learning by doing. We plan to continue building on this experience by exploring new ways to get involved in and support the creative communities we care so much about.
Artists who participated in the showcase:
- Alejandro Perez Torres
- Mu-Chen Lee
- Alexandra (Sasha) Kudelnikova
- Andrew Willms
- Esmé Matthews
- Yashashree Rajendra Chakole
- Roya Powers
- Sasha Smithie
- Iñaki Malvido Prada
- Oscar Edwards
- Bowen Tang