A women-owned art gallery, Alentar was founded by Christine Kierig and Claire Westwood with the goal of cultivating the artistic growth and public appreciation of un-/under-exhibited artists, predominantly from Latin America. Christine brings a wealth of knowledge from her curatorial experience and extensive art historical education, while Claire's fascination and admiration of contemporary art trends and her background in community engagement enrich our vision of creating a more transparent gallery space.
Our central mission is to cultivate meaningful connections between artworks and collectors, emphasizing the importance of close-looking to foster appreciation for artistic techniques, object histories, and the cultural narratives encapsulated within each piece. Additionally, we see the gallery as a site for intellectual growth, where artists and audiences can learn more about the art market, curatorial choices, and art history generally.
Through our dynamic virtual platform, including our website and active social media presence, alongside in-person pop-up exhibitions in cities around the world, we invite audiences to engage directly with the art and artists we champion, creating a shared space for discovery and inspiration.
Alentar is a Spanish word that means: to foster, encourage, cultivate. An alternative configuration of these letters, Lentar, means to slow down. These words, in their varied meanings, come together in our mission and vision for the gallery. We encourage you to slow down and spend some time with our objects, online or in-person, let them take up space in your imagination, let them speak to you, move you, excite you, and then maybe take one home.
Christine Kierig - Director
Born and raised in San Diego, California, Christine became enamored with art when living in Spain during university. This fascination soon became her academic focus and vision for her future, completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from the University of California-Los Angeles and a Master of Arts degree in the History of Art and Architecture from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. She is currently completing her Doctorate in the History of Art from the University of California-Berkeley, specializing in global modern art and mass media.
An avid traveler committed to advancing her art historical knowledge, Christine lived in Auckland, New Zealand, working as the Public Programs Coordinator for the Arts House Trust, and prior to relocating to Mexico City, she worked as the Curatorial Assistant for the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts at the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco, California.
In addition to developing her own expertise in art history and the art market through education and work experience, Christine has also worked to foster a love of art in others via undergraduate teaching at both the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and the University of California-Berkeley. Galería Alentar offers Christine a new audience with which to cultivate and share her interests.
From general knowledge of art history, to object and artist histories, collection, curation, and much more, Christine is excited to use Galería Alentar and its platforms to create a more transparent space through which fellow art lovers and collectors can appreciate objects.
Claire Westwood - Assistant Director
Claire grew up in a small town in Australia, where a deep curiosity about the wider world and a passion for the creative arts took root early. After high school, she travelled and worked Europe, immersing herself in the rich artistic and cultural heritage of the region. One defining moment was sitting on the floor of the Sistine Chapel, awestruck by the grandeur of Michelangelo’s masterpiece—an experience she had once only imagined through the pages of a library book.
Over the next two decades, Claire continued to explore the intersection of creativity and culture. She built a multifaceted career in fashion and costume, where she developed a unique blend of creative vision and operational expertise. Her roles have spanned both artistic and administrative capacities, sharpening her skills in project coordination, visual storytelling, and creative collaboration.
Now based in Mexico City, Claire is thrilled to bring her lifelong appreciation of the arts to her role as Assistant Director of Galeria Alentar. She is passionate about helping connect emerging artists with new audiences and collectors around the world, and believes in the transformative power of art to inspire, challenge, and connect people across cultures.
Claire lives with her husband and their young daughter, who is already developing an eye for art of her own.