June 17, 2026
At Vintage City Offices, Eatery, and Studios, we believe that the people working inside our walls are as much a part of the story as the historic buildings themselves. Our Vintage City Stories series highlights the entrepreneurs, creators, and changemakers who call our Elizabeth, NJ campus home — and few stories capture our mission better than that of Wilson Peralta, Executive Director of Galería Independencia INC, a U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3) traveling museum dedicated to preserving and teaching Latin American independence history through fine art.
From a private office at Vintage City, Wilson is leading a cultural mission that began in Colombia and now reaches communities across New Jersey and the broader United States. His work is a reminder of why we built our coworking and small office for rent in NJ community in the first place: to give visionary people the space, support, and connections they need to bring big ideas to life. Whether you’re searching for offices for rent in NJ, a creative studio, or a place to host your next cultural event, the Vintage City community is built around members like Wilson.
We sat down with Wilson to talk about his father’s legacy, the bronze sculptures traveling with the museum, and what it means to build a mission-driven organization in Elizabeth, NJ and Union County, NJ.
1. Tell us a little about yourself and the story behind Galería Independencia.
I’m Wilson Peralta, a cultural manager and the Executive Director of Galería Independencia INC. For me, this isn’t just an exhibition — it’s a cultural mission inspired by my father’s legacy and a commitment to serving the community. We brought a museum collection from Colombia to the United States to preserve and teach verified Latin American independence history through art and storytelling. We started here in New Jersey, and we’re now expanding nationwide.
2. What inspired you to start this work, and how has that original vision evolved?
I was inspired by the need for historically accurate, inclusive storytelling — the kind that helps people feel proud of their roots and connected to one another. Over time, the vision evolved into a mobile exhibition model so we can meet communities where they are: schools, cultural centers, partner venues, and public institutions. Instead of waiting for people to come to a museum, we bring the museum to them.
3. What do you offer, and what makes Galería Independencia unique in our community?
We offer traveling exhibitions featuring bronze figures and sculptures of key leaders of Latin American independence — available in multiple sizes — alongside curated artworks and QR-based storytelling that turns each piece into a short, accessible learning moment. It’s a museum-quality experience designed for families, students, and multicultural audiences. There’s nothing quite like it in the Elizabeth or Newark area.
4. What do you love most about serving audiences in Elizabeth, Newark, and the wider Tri-State community?
I love when people learn something from our history and it stays with them. When a bronze sculpture sparks a question or a conversation between a grandparent and a grandchild, I know the exhibition is doing what it’s meant to do. That moment of connection — that’s the real success.
5. What has been one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned as a nonprofit leader?
That consistency and community partnerships matter as much as the collection itself. You can have the most beautiful pieces in the world, but without trust and collaboration with the people around you, the mission doesn’t scale. That’s actually one of the reasons being at Vintage City has meant so much — the community here is built on those same values.
6. Is there a story or milestone that reminds you why you do this work?
This museum continues what my father started — without him, it wouldn’t exist. Many people doubted it could happen, but we kept going and brought the collection to the U.S. Every time we install a new exhibition, I think of him. It reminds me why I do this: so our history is learned, and his legacy is not forgotten.
7. How does Galería Independencia give back to the local community?
We focus on education and access. We partner with local institutions and create free educational content online so the impact reaches well beyond the physical exhibition space. A student who can’t visit in person can still learn — that matters to us.
8. What should people know before booking or partnering with Galería Independencia?
We’re a nonprofit educational museum experience — we don’t sell artwork during exhibitions. Our model is flexible: we can install in partner venues of different footprints and for different durations, depending on what works for the host space and audience.
9. What are your goals for the future?
Our goal is to grow our presence in New Jersey first, then expand to other U.S. cities through partnerships. We want to bring more educational cultural programming to communities that don’t always have easy access to museum-quality experiences.
10. How can VCO members and the wider community best support Galería Independencia right now?
The best support is connecting us with partner venues and community organizations — schools, cultural centers, libraries, corporate community programs — that would like to host a traveling exhibition. Sharing our mission, following us on social media, and introducing us to potential hosts goes a long way.
Officially the Fundación Museo Galería Independencia, the organization bills itself as the only traveling museum dedicated to the history and culture of Latin America’s independence movements. Headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia, the foundation preserves artifacts, documents, and testimonies from the independence era (1810–1824) and carries them directly to schools, public plazas, and communities that don’t always have access to museum experiences.
The foundation’s mission rests on three pillars — historical preservation, accessible education, and generational connection — turning names and dates into human stories, from celebrated leaders like Simón Bolívar to lesser-known heroines like María Antonia Santos and Juana Velasco de Gallo. The museum carries forward the legacy of its founder, Wilson Omar Peralta Rivera, whose work was recognized by Colombia’s Congress and who is honored as the inspiration behind the museum’s mission. Today his son, Wilson Peralta — the VCO member featured in this spotlight — continues that legacy, expanding the museum’s reach from Colombia to communities across the United States.
Learn more about the foundation’s mission and collection at galeriaindependencia.com.
Galería Independencia is actively booking partner venues for upcoming traveling exhibitions in New Jersey and beyond. Schools, cultural centers, libraries, corporate community programs, and event spaces are all welcome to inquire about hosting the museum experience.
Website: galeriaindependencia.com
Email: fundaciongaleria@hotmail.com
Instagram: @fundacion_independencia
TikTok: @galeria_independencia
Service area: Elizabeth, NJ · Newark, NJ · Union County, NJ · available nationwide by appointment.
Wilson is one of many mission-driven members who call Vintage City Offices, Eatery, and Studios home. Located at 30 Union Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202, we offer private office space in NJ, coworking memberships, creative studios, and event venues for entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and cultural organizations across Union County and the surrounding region.
If you’re searching for offices for rent in NJ, a small office for rent in NJ, or a community that supports your big ideas the way it has supported Wilson’s, we’d love to meet you. Learn more at vintagecityoffices.com and vintagecity.com.
Follow along with the Vintage City Stories series for more member spotlights from our growing community of makers, founders, artists, and changemakers.
