Art Madrid'26 – A PLACE FOR THE BODY

View of the installation

 

 

The world-renowned conceptual artist Franz Erhahd Walther (Fulda, Germany, 1939) is still active in exhibitions with his particular artistic vision. This is his first anthology in Spain and premiered in the Palace of Velázquez (El Retiro, Madrid) with a sample that includes sculpture, painting, drawing and graphic documentation that relate his two main themes, language and action. For him, art has an immaterial meaning therefore its nature is performative.

 

 

Plastische Rede, 1983. coton,wood, 365 x 470 x 40 cm, 6 pieces

 

 

The action is complemented by the materials used to give meaning to the object and thus reach the public through the body. Together with time and space, these elements are modeled and their discourse giving way to artistic practices such as sculpture and installation. Erharhd, begins its activity in the 50's and questions the condition of the artistic object before the history of art.

 

 

View of the installation

 

 

Organized by the Reina Sofía Art Center Museum, the famous Handlungsstücke (Works of Action) series is defined by the artist as his "demonstrations of work" and this will be complemented by activities carried out with subjects trained for it by the hand artist. Not only is the sample based on actions related to the parameters space and time, but also will be exhibited work on paper of its first stage under the name Wortbilder (pictures of words), photographs and videos will be an addition to this complete presentation From his job.

 

 

View of the installation

 

 

For the artist materials are a vital starting point for developing their actions and in this case the fabrics symbolize art and life. The textures, color and seams themselves make us as spectators immersed in a paradise full of possibilities given that they do not lead us to the idea of ??a finished object. The activities will run until 10 September in collaboration with the Goethe Institut.

 

 

 


ART MADRID’ 26: 21 YEARS OF CONTEMPORARY ART


Discover all the information about the artists and galleries participating in the 21st edition of Art Madrid. The catalog features a curated selection of the works presented in this edition, along with the most relevant details of the event, making it an essential tool for engaging with the fair’s key figures and exploring the defining elements of today’s art scene.


In 2026, Art Madrid celebrates its 21st edition, further establishing itself as a leading event within Spain’s cultural sector. From March 4 to 8, the Galería de Cristal of the Palacio de Cibeles will once again become a meeting point for galleries, collectors, artists, and contemporary art enthusiasts.


Over the past twenty-one years, the fair has evolved into a dynamic and ever-expanding platform, fostering diversity in artistic languages, techniques, and discourses. In this edition, the Galleries Program brings together around 35 exhibitors from more than seven countries, offering a representative overview of the most recent developments in contemporary creation.


The Art Madrid ’26 catalog serves as a key publication for discovering the work of this edition’s galleries and artists —marked by experimentation and a plurality of perspectives— while also documenting the conceptual axes that shape the fair. As part of the Parallel Program, INHABITING THE EPHEMERAL: A Reflection on the “Species” of Spaces proposes a reflection on space, relationships, and shared experience, expanding the understanding of the fair beyond its commercial dimension and highlighting its cultural and experiential significance.


In addition, the catalog presents the initiatives that complete the program, such as the Open Booth dedicated to emerging creation, the Nebrija Space in collaboration with Nebrija University, the Performance Series “Open Infinite. What the Body Remembers,” the One Shot Collectors Program, and the Patronage Program, reaffirming the fair’s commitment to supporting, mediating, and accompanying contemporary art at every stage.

We invite you to discover more about Art Madrid ’26 through the catalog of its 21st edition — a publication that, beyond serving as documentary memory, becomes a cartography of the present artistic moment and an open door to new ways of inhabiting contemporary art.