AORA is an acclaimed virtual gallery and vibrant community pioneering a culture of care. At the heart of AORA is the curated meeting of art, architecture and music to instill a sense of calm and wellbeing.

‘The Space for your Senses’, AORA has welcomed over 50,000 people globally since June 2020 to experience its architect-built and curator-led virtual gallery, discover artwork, engage with its bespoke product range, and be a part of its thriving and engaged global network of artists, galleries, curators, collectors, designers, creatives and more.

Come visit our physical collaborative gallery space, LUMA, at 49 East Road, N1 6AH in Old Street.
Explore the ‘Nepenthe Valley’ artworks by Lawrence Lek via our new virtual space: HORIZONS, a monumental minimalist structure encouraging curiosity and light. Upon entrance, visitors can discover Lek’s first four resting spots through large-scale sculpture, video, sound and more.

VISIT HORIZONS
Team
Team
Jenn Ellis
Co-Founder
Jenn Ellis, Co-Founder, is a curator, patron and founder. From London to Hong Kong, she has launched acclaimed projects and businesses that meaningfully blend art, space and context. Jenn is the founder of curatorial studio APSARA that collaborates with celebrated international artists, galleries and museums such as the Tate, South London Gallery, Ikon Gallery, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Lehmann Maupin, etc. Jenn co-hosts podcast Between Two Curators. guest lectures at Sotheby’s Institute, collects contemporary art, and sits on the committee of Chisenhale Gallery. In 2022 Jenn was appointed a Tate Young Patrons Ambassador and in 2018 nominated a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Benni Allan
Co-Founder
Benni Allan, Co-Founder, is an architect, designer, maker and educator. He is the founder of EBBA Architects, winners of BD Young Architect of the Year and recognised as a forward-thinking experimental practice that has attracted international attention since he graduated from UCL’s Bartlett School of Architecture, earning him the award of ‘One to Watch’ from the British Design Council in 2015 and later the RIBA-J’s Rising Stars Award 2019. Benni also teaches and lectures across a number of UK Institutions including the University of Greenwich, The Bartlett School of Architecture and Central Saint Martins.
Sophia Olver
Head of Marketing & Communications
Sophia holds a B.A. and M.A. in History and Philosophy of Art and a diploma in Graphic Design. She has worked for the Institute of Contemporary Art, London Art Fair and was an integral member of the gallery and communication teams at Colart for five years. Her graphic design practice focusses on arts-based projects and bespoke, creative solutions for branding. Sophia is also the co-founder of OHSH Projects – a nomadic project space that utilises meanwhile spaces in Central London.
Alexandros Garyfallou
Head of Finance
Inji Kim
Curatorial Assistant
Inji’s academic and professional career investigates ways in which art implements the harmony between people and matter. She has held internship positions in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Georgetown University Art Galleries, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and Pera Museum. She earned her M.A. in Art and Museum Studies at Georgetown University and is currently a PhD student in Art History at the University of Washington.
Shuang Liang
Intern
Isabelle Zins
Intern
Opening
Opening
26 January 2023
Visit us at our new monumental gallery space for LUMA, with over 20 works by leading global artists.
Event
Event
7 September
AORA and Souljourn are excited to announce an evening of food, friends and meditation in support of Lalela’s Female Empowerment Programme.
Launch
Launch
30 June
AORA: VI exhibition launches exploring the expansive theme of ‘light’, how it at once may be associated with levity and humour, hope and luminosity, radiance and shadow.
Event
Event
25 April
AORA and Souljourn Yoga are organising an art and yoga retreat from 18-25 February 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa.

[Find out more here]
News
News
11 April
AORA is excited to announce AORA VI Open Call: light.

[Find out more here]
News
News
6 April
Our co-founders Jenn Ellis and Benni Allan were invited to give a tour of AORA for the Cambridge Festival 2022.

[Watch here]
News
News
28 March
AORA announces a fundraiser in which 100% of proceeds from a selection of artworks will go to the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal.
News
News
11 March
AORA launches new virtual gallery Horizons with a new exhibition by Lawrence Lek titled ‘Nepenthe Valley’.

[Visit here]
News
News
9 March
AORA partners with SO-FAR at Art Dubai.
News
News
22-23 January
AORA presents a 24-hour virtual programme in collaboration with SO-FAR and Metis Art at Singapore Art Week.
Pop-Up
Pop-Up
14 December
AORA launches pop-up at Mayfair space with selection of past AORA artists.
Launch
Launch
25 November
AORA:V exhibition launches exploring the interrelation between nature and nurture.
Dinner Club
Dinner Club
22 November
AORA organised its first dinner club at Gold in Notting Hill.
News
News
11 November
We are excited to announce that nineteen artists have been chosen as finalists for AORA:V nature/nurture.
Launch
Launch
7 October
AORA launches the AORA Tote, cut from recycled cotton and perfect for everyday essentials and day-to-day use in the urban environment.
News
News
24 September & 2 October
‘Marine Lovers… their fishy beginnings’, a solo exhibition and performance by Zoë Marden in partnership with V.O. Curations.
News
News
23rd September
AORA V Open Call: nature/nurture launches.
News
News
22nd September
The Tri-Stool is exhibited as part of Modern Art Hire’s latest exhibition alongside Béton Brut at 50 Vyner Street for the London Design Festival.
News
News
18th August
Our co-founders, Benni Allan and Jenn Ellis, were interviewed by LionHeart on BBC Radio London. You can check out the full interview on our IGTV on Instagram.
[see here]

Event
Event
29-30 June
Visit the AORA Pop-Up at 106 New Oxford Street, London to Discover, Encounter, Explore and Engage.
News
News
19th June
AORA reaches 30,000 unique virtual visitors since its launch in June 2020.
News
News
31 May
New AORA candles Day & Night launched at RAYE concept store in Spitalfields Market.
News
News
12 May
We are excited to announce the Finalists of AORA:IV’s Open Call exploring Urbanism.
News
News
29 April
Discover AORA in our latest video, exploring the pillars and story behind the creation of the platform.
[see here]
Press
Press
1st March
We are delighted to be featured in the Frame Magazine’s March-April edition that focuses on ‘A New Model for Wellbeing’. [see here]
Press
Press
8th Feb
AORA III included in Evening Standard’s list of ‘London Exhibitions 2021: the best art and museum displays to see online’. We are delighted to be featured in the Frame Magazine’s March-April edition that focuses on ‘A New Model for Wellbeing’. [see here]
Launch
Launch
1st Feb
AORA III exhibition launch with new show exploring “bodies”, including the four finalists of the Sculpture Open Call.
Open Call Finalists
Open Call Finalists
25th Jan
We are very pleased to share the winners of AORA’s first Open Call. The Finalists include Adeline de Monseignat, Amba Sayal-Bennett, Oren Pinhassi & Princess Pea.
Open Call
Open Call
14th December
Deadline
OPEN CALL – Calling artists to submit digital sculptural work for AORA III. All work selected will be exhibited in the next exhibition launching in January 2021 exploring “bodies”.
Press
Press
15th November
Co-founder Benni Allan write up in Wallpaper Magazine on his practice and setting up AORA.
Press
Press
16th October
AORA included in a special piece by the Curator Mag on ‘The Art of Healing through Virtual Reality’.
News
News
6-9 October
AORA pop up held at Sook Spaces on South Molton Street during Frieze Week, with a series of live discussions, product launch and interactive video exhibition.
News
News
2nd October
AORA launched its online shop alongside Exhibition II which can now be explored in the Space.
Press
Press
14th September
AORA has been included in the Autumn issue of OnOffice Magazine. ‘A New World’ looks at disruptors exploring the potential of digital mediums and the evolving trends shaping the design, art and architecture industry.
Event
Event
27th August
We rounded off exhibition I with AORAI:Forum, a round the table discussion between the co-founders, AORA’s community and contributing artists including Adia Wahid, Gerhard Marx and Gabriela Giroletti.
Press
Press
1st July
AORA included in the Modern House’s Culture Journal for July, listing us alongside the likes of Tate Kids, Hamilton and Yinka Shonibare.
Interview
Interview
1st July
Interview with AORA co-founder Jenn Ellis featured by Made in Bed Magazine, a publication run by students at Sotherby’s Institute of Art.
Introduction
Introduction
17th June
Co-founders Benni Allan and Jenn Ellis present tour of AORA:I, introducing the story behind the virtual space and the artists exhibited.
AORA Launch
AORA Launch
15th June
We would like to use this opportunity to thank all of our network of collaborators, artists and allies in their generous support of this project.
AS FEATURED IN

We believe strongly in promoting emerging artists and are non-hierarchal in our approach to curation and exhibitions. We hold open calls for each edition and welcome submissions when open. We also invite galleries and artists that share in our vision and ethos directly.
Art, architecture and music have proven health benefits from alleviating pain, increasing relaxation, and shortening recovery periods. AORA brings these benefits together and provides a platform, accessible to all, that through the curated meeting of the three, nourishes every individual.

AORA is founded by Jenn Ellis (curator, speaker, patron) and Benni Allan (founding director, EBBA Architects). Bringing together their passions, it seeks to build in the virtual world with soul.

For all enquiries related to the artists, sale of artworks, subscriptions and technical support please use the details below.
Partners
Partners
SO-FAR
Digital
YMC
Retail Store
YMC are our stockist partner, selling our much loved Candles.
Kuro Kiosk
Retail Store