Within the last edition of the fair, Art Madrid carried out a collaborative action, on Tuesday 25th of February, with the arts & crafts public school Artediez, also joined by Liquitex, a benchmark brand in the manufacture of products for fine arts.

This project rmatches one of the fair's essential goals: to support young talent and encourage artistic creation from its inception. The profile of students at the school is varied since it provides training in photography, audiovisuals, illustration, industrial, fashion and graphic design, but all of them share the same concerns about artistic expression as well as the vital choice to make of it their profession. Artediez, moreover, makes efforts to support the work of its students with various exhibition proposals, contests or conducting travelling exhibitions, a work of visibility that undoubtedly pays off.

On this occasion, and within the framework of the fair and the activities program that we carry out every year, the collaboration with the school was divided into two actions, one of training and the other one of artistic creation, and in both, we had the contribution of Liquitex. The brand supported the proposal with materials and the organisation of a practical workshop, for students and the general public, on the use of acrylics and conservation of works of art taught by one of its artist ambassadors: Miguel Torrús. The objective was, on the one hand, to promote the creativity of young people by carrying out an exclusive artwork that was exhibited in the school itself and, on the other hand, to expand their knowledge and skills with this workshop, which Miguel conceived as practical training on technique and methodology to get the most out of the materials used while taking into account the conservation of the works and their long-term durability.

Liquitex is a brand of high-quality acrylics part of the Winsor & Newton group, manufacturer of fine art products since 1820. Liquitex characterises by the production of high-quality pigment paints, something that guarantees its durability, colour preservation and brightness and luminosity over time. Several artists specialised in this technique have joined forces with the brand to serve as ambassadors. This is the case of Miguel Torrús, a creator with more than 30 years of experience that has wide international recognition and works particularly with acrylics and watercolours. His work moves between expressionist figurative art and pure abstraction, and is part of important collections inside and outside Spain, in addition to having obtained countless awards and mentions. His collaboration with Liquitex is also based on his deep knowledge of each technique and his ability to fully exploit the capabilities of the materials. As he himself explains:

“my main function is to be able to teach both the professional artist, the student and the amateur painter the possibilities of the material, make them know all the possibilities of colour, of a medium, force them to leave their 'comfort zone' and that they know new pigments, new materials, new possibilities.”

The result was a very busy training session in which both students and the general public participated. During the workshop, everything learned was put into practice and tests were made with the materials, the different pigments and their characteristics on different supports.

But in addition to this training workshop, Artediez invited one of his students, the artist María Elvira Bárbara (@elvirambarbara), to carry out an intervention on the school premises using the materials provided by Liquitex. The chosen space was the glass pane of the main entrance, which allows the work to be seen in front and behind, as well as playing with the dimensions and the fixed elements of the structure onto the piece. Elvira Bárbara chose for the occasion bird motifs with which she invaded the glass surface with feathers and wings outlined in white, grey and black. A whole day of painting that resulted in a spectacular artwork to welcome students and visitors to the school.

Ana García Angulo, Head of the Artediez Promotion and Development Department, has been in charge of this collaboration with Art Madrid and has managed the actions from the school, showing enormous enthusiasm for the project from the beginning. Given the interest of the centre to expand the range of options of its teaching programs, in addition to enabling new experiences for its students, this proposal has been widely appreciated by all and enjoyed not only by students but by all teachers and visitors to the school.

From Art Madrid, we will continue working to support the education sector and foster creativity and young talent from the beginning, because those will be the artists of tomorrow.

ART MADRID CLOSES ITS 21ST EDITION AS A KEY EVENT OF MADRID ART WEEK

The Galería de Cristal of the Palacio de Cibeles hosted the 21st edition of Art Madrid from March 4 to 8, once again consolidating its role as one of the must-see events of Madrid Art Week. Over the course of five days, the fair brought together 35 national and international galleries and more than 200 artists, turning the venue into a meeting point for gallerists, collectors, professionals, and lovers of contemporary art.

Throughout its trajectory, Art Madrid has built a distinct identity, with a constant focus on giving visibility to both emerging and established galleries and on opening contemporary art to diverse audiences. Rather than being structured around a single curatorial line, the fair embraced a plural proposal, respecting the unique DNA of each exhibitor.

Art Madrid’26 presented a Gallery Program distinguished by the diversity of artistic proposals and languages, encouraging dialogue between different generations and contemporary practices. Painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, installation, and new hybrid forms coexisted in an edition that once again confirmed the dynamism of today’s art scene

During the days of the fair, nearly 20,000 visitors explored the booths of the participating galleries and enjoyed a parallel program that expanded the experience beyond the traditional exhibition format.

The Parallel Program: An Expanded Art Fair

The Parallel Program once again took center stage in the Art Madrid experience, activating the fair space through projects that explored new forms of interaction between artworks, artists, and the public.

Among the most notable initiatives was the performance series Open Infinite: What the Body Remembers, which presented a daily performative action at the fair featuring works by Colectivo La Burra Negra, Rocío Valdivieso, Amanda Gatti, and Jimena Tercero. The pieces incorporated the body as a critical device and a space of memory, reinforcing the presence of performance within Art Madrid’s programming.

The third edition of Open Booth presented Despiece. Protocolo de mutación, by Daniel Barrio, a site-specific project that transformed the booth into a landscape constructed from urban remnants and industrial materials. The installation invited visitors to physically engage with the work, creating an immersive experience within the exhibition space.

Meanwhile, Espacio Nebrija hosted the project Estancias transitorias (NotanIA SipedagogIE), a proposal by Nebrija University that reflected on Aesthetic Intelligence in the face of the growing dominance of algorithmic logic. The installation proposed a reclamation of gesture, materiality, and the time inherent to the creative process as dimensions that cannot be reduced to automation.

Lecturas. Curated Walkthroughs also returned, with itineraries designed by Zuriñe Lafón and Marisol Salanova that offered curatorial insights for exploring the fair from specific critical perspectives and expanding the visitor experience.

Patronage, Awards, and Acquisitions

Support for contemporary creation once again stood as one of the fair’s central pillars through the second edition of the Art Madrid Patronage Program, which recognizes the work of artists and strengthens the connections between galleries, collectors, and private entities.

On this occasion, the following awards were presented:

Cervezas Alhambra Emerging Artist Award Iyán Castaño, represented by Galería Arancha Osoro

One Shot Hotels Breakthrough Artist Award Joost Vandebrug, represented by KANT Gallery

In the Acquisition Awards category, several private collections incorporated works presented at the fair into their collections.

Studiolo Collection Roger Sanguino — DDR Art Gallery

Devesa Law Kim Han Ki — Banditrazos Gallery

E2IN2 Collection Albert Bonet — Inéditad Gallery

dn2 Collection Iván Baizán — Galería Arancha Osoro

These acquisitions reflect the private sector’s commitment to the development of contemporary art and contribute to advancing the professional trajectories of emerging and mid-career artists.

Collecting and Support for the Artistic Ecosystem

The promotion of collecting once again played a prominent role in this edition thanks to the One Shot Collectors program, which offered personalized advice to both new buyers and more experienced collectors, facilitating access to the contemporary art market and fostering direct relationships between artists, galleries, buyers, and collectors.

This program, together with the Patronage Program, continues to strengthen the professional ecosystem surrounding the fair and reinforce Art Madrid’s commitment to supporting contemporary creation.

Among the most notable sales were works by Antonio Ovejero, represented by CLC ARTE; Leticia Feduchi and Ángela Mena, represented by Galería Sigüenza; Idoia Cuesta and Iyán Castaño, represented by Galería Arancha Osoro; and Yasiel Elizagaray, represented by Nuno Sacramento Arte Contemporânea. Likewise, the proposals presented by Inéditad Gallery were very well received, with notable sales of works by artists Albert Bonet and Eduardo UrdIales, as well as Carmen Mansilla, who debuted at Art Madrid'26 and achieved a sold out.

The overall balance of the edition has been particularly positive, with sales reported by all 35 participating galleries, confirming the strong interest from collectors and the dynamism of the market throughout the fair. Among the galleries that recorded notable commercial activity are La Mercería (Valencia), LAVIO (Murcia–Shanghai), 3 Punts Galería (Barcelona), Galerie One (Paris), Shiras Galería (Valencia), Galería Rodrigo Juarranz (Aranda de Duero), Galería São Mamede (Lisbon), Yiri Arts (Taiwan), and Trema Arte Contemporânea (Lisbon), among others.

A Fair made possible thanks to Its network of Partners

The success of Art Madrid’26 has been made possible thanks to the support of its official sponsors: Cervezas Alhambra, One Shot Hotels, Liquitex, Universidad Nebrija, and Posca, as well as the trust of its collaborators: Asociación 9915, Colección Studiolo, E2IN2, Colección dn2, Devesa Law, Enviarte, Cova 13, and Vanille Bakery Lab & Café. The fair also benefits from the involvement of its media partners and the support of various cultural organizations, private collections, and institutions that contribute to strengthening the contemporary art ecosystem.

Art Madrid: A Future Full of Possibilities

After 21 years of history, Art Madrid continues to consolidate its position as a key event in the contemporary art calendar, both nationally and internationally. Its ability to bring together galleries, artists, collectors, and institutions reinforces its role as a space for encounter, exchange, and discovery. The fair maintains a steadily growing outlook, driven by a program that evolves each year and increasingly opens up to more innovative proposals.

Thank you for being part of the 21st edition of Art Madrid. Your support is essential for continuing to promote art and culture.

See You at Art Madrid’27!