Art Madrid'26 – LISTEN WITH YOUR EYES. SOUNDS ART IN SPAIN, 1961-2016

Ramón González-Arroyo, L'isla des Neumas, 2007. Sound installation at the Fundación Juan March Museum, Palma. Collection of the artist. Photo: Xisco Bonnín / Fundación Juan March Archive

 

 

The face B of contemporary art is noted with the compilation sample of Sound art of the foundation Juan March (Madrid), this set was already exhibited in the Juan March Foundation Museum of Palma de Mallorca (February 10 - May 21) and In the Museum of Spanish Abstract Art of Cuenca (June 16 - September 18). These artistic practices have been gaining support through exhibitions in museums and monographic exhibitions, as well as their presence in reasoned catalogs and the elaboration of specialized bibliography.

 

The curators, José Iges and José Luis Maire have chosen more than 400 works to articulate this particular discourse. As a blank sheet, sound art up to the 60s had no place in the Spanish artistic panorama and even until the 70s was not found the relevant documentation to catalog it as artistic practice. In this exhibition, they give a nod to the story that has not been resorted to and give it the importance it deserves.

 

 

 

Photo of the exhibition

 

 

The characteristic of such exposure is the homogeneity with which it has been treated. The most common when projecting an exhibition of these characteristics is to isolate each work of the group to endow it with a unitary meaning and not contaminate the acoustic space. That sense of exclusivity and evasion has been shaped in "Listening with the eyes". Here they have preferred that these works share space with those of the permanent collection and have articulated a discourse that not only highlights our auditory sense, but also the visual one. This action gives the static work a certain dynamism that makes its reading can be interpreted with another language.

 

Photo of the exhibition

 

 

They have also taken into account the architectural structure of the spaces, thus integrating works that endow the space with a significant character that only the audiovisual can foster. The view is a very powerful sense and with this sample aims to give voice to what the eye is not accustomed, form a binomial and break the limits of space.


Technological obsolescence and collective memory are very definite themes in the character of the show, this anachronistic challenge, has been articulated in a chronological way, beginning with the pioneer artists of the 60s, vinyls as standard of the Sound Art. There are not only samples In the exhibition of Madrid, have integrated with these pieces files and objects relating to the pieces creating a signed statement of the trajectory of said practice.
 

 

 

Mikel Arce, * .WAV, 2004. Sound installation at the Juan March Foundation Museum, Palma. Collection of the artist. Photo: Xisco Bonnín / Fundación Juan March Archive

 

 


Until the 21 of January you can visit her in the Foundation March, Madrid. An obligatory stop for all those who love the sensory and the eccentric. An appointment with what has never been forgotten and now is being given voice. If you are looking for an alternative to what is stipulated this is your exhibition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.