Art Madrid'26 – Café Lehmitz in pictures, a vivid experience

Anders Petersen. Café Lehmitz. 1967-1970

 

 


In this occasion, PhotoEspaña 2017 has given `carte blanche´ to the renowned photographer Alberto García-Alix to design an exhibition with his influential artists, in order to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Festival. These selected artists will show their works in Círculo de Bellas Artes, Museum of Romanticism and CentroCentro Cibeles. They are Antonie d'Agata, Pierre Molinier, Paulo Nozolino, Teresa Margolles, Karlheinz Weinberger y Anders Petersen.

 

 

 

Anders Petersen. Café Lehmitz. 1967-1970

 


Anders Petersen (Stockholm, 1944) approached to art through painting and writing, and after meeting Christer Ströholm he started with photography. He studied in several art schools in Stockholm and collaborated as a photographer in numerous swedish publications. He worked as a teacher at the Cinema and Photography University of Gothemburg, Sweden. Petersen has received numerous grants and rewards since the seventies, and regularly organises workshops and exhibitions throughout Europe, Asia and in the USA. In 1978, he published `Café Lehmitz´ in Germany. With this book he reached international recognition and the information that it presents is enhanced by the photographs in the current exhibition.

 

 

Anders Petersen. Café Lehmitz. 1967-1970

 

 

Anders Petersen´s photographs describe in a very human and familiar way the life of Café Lehmitz, a bar that the artist found in Hamburg's Red Light District. This local was the meeting point of prostitutes, transvestites, drug addicts and indigents. There, they developed their life stories and relationships, in which the artist took part during three years. He developed his project between 1967 and 1970 and when it was finished was exhibited for the first time on the same bar. This project was considered a key element in european urban photography.

 

 

Anders Petersen. Café Lehmitz. 1967-1970

 


CentroCentro offers the visitor the chance of becoming part of Café Lehmitz´s extraordinary world, living a night with its extravagant protagonists throughout the exhibition. It can be visited on the fifth floor until September 17th.

 

 

The 22nd edition of Art Madrid opens its application period. From 3 to 7 March 2027, the Galería de Cristal del Palacio de Cibeles will once again become the meeting point for national and international contemporary art. Galleries interested in taking part can submit their application until 20 October 2026.



Art Madrid'26 - 21st Contemporary Art Fair. Aerial view.

The Art Madrid contemporary art fair

Art Madrid takes place each year as part of Madrid Art Week, the moment in the Spanish art calendar with the highest concentration of collectors, institutions and specialist press. With 22 years of history, the fair brings together national and international galleries with a programme focused on recently produced contemporary work.


Located at the Galería de Cristal del Palacio de Cibeles, in the cultural heart of the city and steps away from the Triángulo del Arte and the Paseo del Prado, Art Madrid offers participating galleries a distinctive and recognisable setting within the Spanish art fair landscape.


Art Madrid'26 - 21st Contemporary Art Fair. Entrance.

Art Madrid'26 in figures

The previous edition closed with 35 galleries from 7 countries (Spain, Portugal, France, Denmark, Taiwan, South Korea and Cuba), over 200 artists and around 20,000 visitors. 35% of the audience were new collectors, with an age range between 35 and 60 and a gender split of 55% women and 45% men.


The fair welcomed representatives from more than 30 foundations, museums and collections, including Fundación Mapfre, Fundación BBVA, Fundación Telefónica, Fundación Banco Santander, Fundación Bertelsmann, Fundación María Cristina Masaveu Peterson, Fundación Carmen y Lluís Bassat, Fundación Studiolo, Fundació Lluís Coromina, IVAM, MARCO, CAAM, MEIAC and the Museo del Romanticismo. Delegations from Madrid City Council, the Community of Madrid, the Ministry of Culture and ambassadors from several countries also attended.


Art Madrid'26 - 21st Contemporary Art Fair. Fundación Studiolo Acquisition Award.

PROGRAMMES

GALLERIES PROGRAMME

In each edition, Art Madrid brings together a carefully curated selection of around 35 national and international galleries with proposals focused on recently produced contemporary work.


ONE SHOT COLLECTORS PROGRAMME

Sponsored by One Shot Hotels and led by Ana Suárez Gisbert (art advisor specialising in international law and the art trade, art appraiser and court expert), the Collectors Programme connects new and experienced buyers with the participating works and galleries through a personalised advisory service throughout the five days of the fair.


For galleries, it operates as an additional channel for engaging active buyers, running in parallel to their own commercial activity.


PATRONAGE PROGRAMME

Art Madrid partners with institutions, collectors and private companies to directly support artists and galleries through awards and acquisitions. At the 2026 edition:


  • One Shot Hotels Breakthrough Artist Award (€1,000): Joost Vandebrug · KANT Gallery (Copenhagen–Palma)
  • Cervezas Alhambra Emerging Artist Award (€1,000): Iyán Castaño · Galería Arancha Osoro (Oviedo)
  • Colección Studiolo Acquisition: Roger Sanguino · DDR Art Gallery (Madrid)
  • Colección E2IN2 Acquisition: Albert Bonet · Inéditad Gallery (Barcelona)
  • Devesa Law Acquisition: Kim Han Ki · Banditrazos Gallery (Seoul)
  • Colección dn2 Acquisition: Iván Baizán · Galería Arancha Osoro (Oviedo)

Art Madrid'26 - 21st Contemporary Art Fair. Devesa Law Acquisition Award.


PARALLEL PROGRAMME AND ON-SITE ACTIVITIES

Throughout February, Art Madrid runs a Parallel Programme of series, talks and projects that extend the dialogue beyond the fair venue.


During the five days of the fair, alongside the galleries' exhibition programme, on-site activities include the Open Booth, the Performance Series and Readings: Curated Tours.


Art Madrid'26 - 21st Contemporary Art Fair. View of Daniel Barrio's Open Booth.


Communication and reach

The Art Madrid'26 communications campaign reached 17 million people across online and offline media: print press, radio, exclusive catalogue, web, newsletter, social media and virtual 360° tour. Coverage included general and specialist national and international media, with appearances on RTVE, TeleMadrid, Onda Madrid, Onda Cero, COPE, El Mundo, ABC, Vogue, TimeOut and Elle, among others.


All participating galleries and artists feature on the Art Madrid website during and after the fair, with their own profile, images of works and contact details.


Art Madrid'26 - 21st Contemporary Art Fair. Aerial view.


KEY INFORMATION:

Galleries interested in taking part in the 22nd edition of Art Madrid can submit their application through the online registration form available on the website until 20 October 2026.



For any queries, please write to info@art-madrid.com or call +34 91 535 87 11.