ARCOmadrid 2024. The art world meets in Madrid.

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ARCOmadrid, organised by IFEMA MADRID, holds its 43rd edition from 6 to 10 March. The extremely high quality of the projects submitted by the galleries guarantees a first-class artistic experience. The exhibition will showcase the current international art scene in a broad dialogue with Spanish art. Five days of discovery and exploration with the presence of new international galleries that confirm ARCOmadrid’s role as a benchmark for exploring the work of artists and giving them visibility, fostering an active market and promoting knowledge of art.

ARCO, together with the city of Madrid, will bring together galleries, artists, collectors, curators and other professionals, institutions, museums and art centres from all over the world, offering visitors a unique experience.

A total of 205 galleries from 36 countries will convert Madrid into the international capital of contemporary art. On this occasion, 171 galleries make up the General Programme. In addition, there are a number of curated sections: the shore, the tide, the current: an oceanic Caribbean, with 19 galleries; Opening. New galleries, with 15, and Never the Same. Latin American art, with 12 galleries.

Spain is represented this year by 73 galleries, which make up 35% of what is on offer. The international segment accounts for more than 65% via 132 galleries: Of these, 30% are from Latin America with 38 galleries from 13 countries taking part, with a significant presence from Argentina, Brazil and Mexico. As such, ARCOmadrid will continue to project its unique position as a Latin American reference point in Europe.

ARCOmadrid 2024 Art Programme

Among the international galleries participating in the General Programme, ARCO welcomes Max Hetzler, Vera Munro, Air de Paris, Fortes D’aloia & Gabriel, Lévy Gorvy Dayan and Hollybush Gardens. They are joined by others such as Thaddaeus Ropac, Mai 36, Jocelyn Wolff, Chantal Crousel, Krinzinger, Nächst St. Stephan Rosemarie Schwarzwälder, Giorgio Persano, Lelong, Meyer Riegger, Perrotin, Poggi, Neugerriemschneider, and Thomas Schulte. Returning galleries include Capitain Petzel, Société and Chertlüdde, as well as Mendes Wood Dm, Nicolai Wallner and Kalfayan Galleries.

Alongside the General Programme, ARCOmadrid will showcase three curated sections. Firstly the shore, the tide, the current: an oceanic Caribbean constitutes this year`s research subject in a section curated by Carla Acevedo-Yates and Sara Hermann Morera. Through a careful selection of artists and galleries, this segment proposes a reading of the complex intersection between land and this sea that emerges from and towards the shore as a space of exchange and constant instability “intervening in the discomfort of placing oneself between the liquid and the solid", as the curators have point out. In a space specially designed by Ignacio G. Galán, Arantza Ozaeta and Álvaro Martín Fidalgo, 19 galleries will take part, including David Castillo, Hutchinson Modern & Contemporary, Monique Meloche, Patron, Praise Shadows Art Gallery, Tern Gallery, Espacio Mínimo and Helga de Alvear.

Opening. New galleries will, once again, be a space at ARCOmadrid for discovering new works of art. Cristina Anglada’s and Yina Jiménez Suriel selection represents the commitment of young international galleries with the participation of 15 galleries, such as Artbeat, Blue Velvet, Eins Gallery, Espacio Continuo, Fermay, Hatch, Remota, Sissi Club and The Space Art Gallery, which are taking part for the first time.

The section Never the Same. Latin American Art contributes to strengthening the study of Latin American creation and its relationship with all the agents present at the fair. Curated by José Esparza Chong Cuy and Manuela Moscoso, it comprises a selection of Latin America artists from 12 galleries including A Gentil Carioca, Jaqueline Martins, _Vigilgonzales, Isla Flotante, Millan, N.A.S.A.L.and Proyectos Ultravioleta.

In addition to this, there are 28 Artist Projects, presented by 32 galleries, including Peppi Bottrop (Ehrhardt Florez + Meyer Riegger), Laia Abril (Set Espai d'Art), Zila Leutenegger (Peter Kilchmann), Concha Jérez (Freijo), Mónica de Miranda (Carlos Carvalho), Esther Boix (Marc Domènech), Josep Ponsatí (Prats Nogueras Blanchard+Bombon Projects), Carles Congost (House of Chappaz) and Elena Aitzkoa (Rosa Santos).

ArtsLibris will again be present at ARCOmadrid with more than 80 publishers from 20 countries, and a number of book presentations will take place at the Arts Libris Speaker’s Corner.

Collectors and special guests

ARCOmadrid is launching several initiatives to promote collecting. First Collectors by Fundación Banco Santander, the now renowned free art consultancy service for first-time buyers at the fair, has helped over 700 people since it began 14 years ago.  The Young Collectors programme, which brings together more than fifty young international collectors is another highlight. All this is in addition to the already established International Buyers’ Programme and the Special Guests’ Programme, attracting around 400 collectors and 200 professionals from some 40 countries to Madrid.

The following patron collectors and members of museums have confirmed their attendance at ARCOmadrid, and include: ADIAF, Association pour la diffusion internationale de l'art français, Paris; Amis du Centre Pompidou, Paris; MAMCO, Geneva; MAXXI, Rome; Palais de Tokyo, Paris; Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid; Museo del Prado, Madrid; MALBA, Buenos Aires; MALI, Lima; Museo Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona; Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), Chicago; PIN. Freunde der Pinakothek der Moderne e.V., Munich; MOLAA, Long Beach; MACBA, Barcelona; Fundación Joan Miró, Barcelona; Guggenheim Bilbao; Meadows Museum, Dallas; Spirit Now, London; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Perez Art Museum, Miami; The Bass, Miami.

Once again, several Spanish and international private companies have joined different initiatives in the form of acquisitions and recognition of artistic creation by awarding prizes that include: the Lexus Award for the Best Stand at ARCOmadrid 2024, 8th Cervezas Alhambra Emerging Art Award, 17th Illy Sustainart Award, 19th ARCO/BEEP Electronic Art Award,1st Fondazione Per L'arte Moderna e Contemporanea CRT Acquisition Award, 1st ENATE-ARCOmadrid 2024 Award, 10th Opening Award, Catalina D’Anglade Award, and the Emerige-CPGA Award.

Also, at this 28th edition, Fundación ARCO presents the “A” Awards for Collecting, recognising four collections: Mario Cader-Frech, José Antonio Llorente and Irene Rodríguez, Vasa Perović and Fundação PLMJ.

ARCOmadrid Forum (see the full programme here)

Forum on Collecting: a meeting point for the international art community to get to know and share ideas on art collecting in sessions that are open to the public. Guests include Inma Prieto, Manuel Borja Villel, María Luisa Samaranch, Nieves Fernández, Paloma Martín Llopis, Alaska, Christopher Makos, Rodrigo Navia Osorio, Armando Montesinos, Gloria Moure and Mario Cader-Frech.

The Museums Forum will host talks led by Martí Manen, Agustín Pérez Rubio, Sandra Gamarra Heshiki, Amanda de la Garza, Manuel Segade and the Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation.

And the shore, the tide, the current: an oceanic Caribbean Forum offers sessions on the central theme of this edition, which will be led by Sara Hermann Morera and Carla Acevedo-Yates.

The ArtsLibris Speakers’ Corner Forum, which fosters dialogue between art, experimentation and publishing, will also be part of the programme. Two other talks, organised by MAV Women in the Visual Arts, on the presence of women artists in the market, are offered too.

Also talking place are the Professional Meetings, reserved only for professionals and by invitation, which will focus on this occasion on the Meeting: An Institutional Dance, led by Martí Manen, the Meeting of Museums of Europe and Latin America, led by Amanda de la Garza and Manuel Segade, and the Meeting of Galleries, led by Cristina Anglada and Yina Jiménez Suriel.

With the support of Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), ARCOmadrid offers various meetings between Spanish museums and international institutions led by Elvira Dyangani Ose (MACBA); Nuria Enguita (IVAM); Javier Hontoria (Museo Patio Herreriano); and Fernando Pérez (Azkuna Zentroa).

Design, architecture and spaces at ARCOmadrid

Pedro Pitarch’s studio was commissioned for the spatial design of the common areas of ARCOmadrid 2024, and the architects Ignacio G. Galán, Álvaro Martín Fidalgo and Arantza Ozaeta designed the gallery spaces for the programme of The shore, the tide, the current: an oceanic Caribbean.

This year, the Madrid studio BURR was in charge of designing the Guest Lounge for ARCOmadrid 2024 in collaboration with the Leading Brands of Spain Forum (FMRE) companies: Actiu, Cosentino, Crevin, Fama, Gandiablasco, Joquer, Lladró and Ondarreta. Others brands such as Megaandamios, Megabastides, La Real Alcalaina, Garnica, Acerinox and Ledsc4 are also taking part.

The Fundación ARCO Room, dedicated to the artist Solange Pessoa, is designed by Las 2 Mercedes, with lighting by Años Luz. AVWL – A Very Welcoming Lounge – by Natuzzi is designed by Manuel Espejo, and Room 43 is a project by Deseesedesign with the collaboration of eflux. L.A. Studio is back again to decorate the Presentation Room.

This year, visitors to ARCOmadrid will have the chance to enjoy the fair’s gastronomic offering in a new location – the intersection of halls 5 and 7. The Food Court – with furniture by Isimar and a plant decoration project by Greenarea – will have a wide and varied gastronomic offering at four different dedicated spaces.

When it comes to publications, as well as to the clothing for ARCOstaff, the ongoing and unwavering support for creativity is even greater in 2024. The dosgrapas studio is in charge of designing the ARCO catalogue, and the publishing house Underbau for the publication of the shore, the tide, the current: an oceanic Caribbean. Sohuman, led by Javier Aparici, designed the uniforms for the support team.

Support from the private sector and institutions

Sponsors for ARCOmadrid include important corporations and institutions in the private sector that sponsor specific areas or initiatives at the fair.
 This year’s event enjoys the institutional collaboration of Acción Cultural Española (AC/E) and AECID, as well as Fundación Banco Santander, Lexus, Ruinart, Illy, Cervezas Alhambra, Iberia, El Corte Inglés, Frederic Malle, Radisson Hotels, Bodegas ENATE and Auara.

ARCOmadrid 2024 will be held from 6 to 10 March in halls 7 and 9 of the IFEMA MADRID exhibition centre, with thefirst three days dedicated exclusively to professionals, and from 15:00 on Friday 8 March, it will open its doors to the general public.