Art Madrid'26 – WHEN ART DOES NOT NEED SPACE

The road to the virtual is a fact. The entry into the new millennium has meant a change in many of our habits, and much of the novelties come from technology. It is not necessary to remember that we develop our day to day with an open window to an infinite world, which we access through our phones and computers. It is the closest that exists to the gift of ubiquity.

“Psychological Morphology “ de Roberto Matta© Matta, VEGAP, Madrid, 2019

This reality has also had an impact on art. The proposals that bet to give more visibility to the artists and their work through virtual accessible projects are only at their beginnings. The possibilities are increasing and the richness of the initiatives too. Technological investment in the sector is on progress and the exploration of the connection with the digital sphere opens many doors to the future. Many galleries organise virtual tours of their exhibitions, the fairs strive to leave a record of the event so that people can relive the experience, and the artists themselves enter this area to accommodate new works.

“La Belle Société “ de René Magritte© René Magritte, VEGAP, Madrid, 2019

In this context, many people ask: is the experience of living art possible in the virtual world? What other sensations may arise? These questions are the starting point of the “Intangibles” project that the Telefónica Foundation opens this week simultaneously at its headquarters in Mexico City, Mar de Plata, Montevideo, Bogotá, Quito, Santiago, Chile, Lima and Madrid. The exhibition is presented as an initiative that wants to break physical barriers, overcome the limitations imposed by physical space and open a window to digital art and technology, with works from the foundation's own collection that can be enjoyed simultaneously in a shared experience.

“La fenêtre aux collines”, Juan Gris, 1923 ©ColecciónTelefónica

Among Joaquín Torres García, Roberto Matta, Juan Gris, René Magritte, Paul Delvaux, Eduardo Chillida, María Blanchard and Antoni Tàpies, the exhibition brings together a set of digital projects explicitly designed for each of the venues and using diverse techniques, from the VR, 3D design or photogrammetry, video mapping or digital painting. The objective is to investigate the potential of the digital art experience for the viewer, so it has not only innovated in the incorporation of these techniques, but also in the study of the sensations and perception of the visitor, with several tests oriented to improve the project.

With this proposal, it is intended to reflect on how the experience of approaching art is lived and what new possibilities technology offers for knowledge, visibility and dissemination of artistic creation, overcoming traditional barriers such as space and time.

 

Once again! ​ 🎂 2️⃣1️⃣ ​ 💫

Art Madrid returned to the Galería de Cristal of the Palacio de Cibeles from 4 to 8 March 2026 to celebrate twenty-one years of contemporary art. Spin the wheel and we're back for a new edition! That means that in two months we'll see each other there, at the fair, at Art Madrid'26.

The roller coaster of emotions that is a whole year of work starts slowly, then accelerates until it reaches a frenetic pace. Everybody gets ready for their own "performance", depending on where they are and what their role is during those days. In our case, we go from the computer screen to the entrance of the fair, where—after a year of preparation—we know by heart the name and face of every artist and gallery owner who arrives on setup day, before the sun has even risen, to register and begin an intense week of art.

It's double the excitement ☺️ because seeing each other again that day, just before the opening, means that we've managed to organize a new edition of our event.


Leticia Feduchi. Chair with green textile. Sigüenza Gallery.


For more than two decades, Art Madrid has served as an international meeting place where artists, galleries, and the public come together to discuss trends, techniques, and conceptual approaches in contemporary art. After a year of preparation, the run-up to the fair generates great excitement and marks the start of a highly anticipated week... the most important one... Madrid Art Week (in Madrid)..

The fair stands out for placing artists at the center of its proposal, promoting a dialogue between each creator's personal experience and the public's perception. It thus consolidates its role as a stage for promotion, commercialization, and critical reflection in the sector, seeking to shine the spotlight for an entire week on the work of those who make an art fair possible. We all contribute to and help build it, but it is in the work of art—the one we admire and that has come from the hands of a person who does something with great perfection—where the magic truly happens and where we must focus our attention.


Antonio Barahona. The big umbrella. María Aguilar Gallery.


In 2026, Art Madrid will bring together 185 artists from more than 25 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America: The international and multicultural nature of the fair is showcased by the presence of the following countries: Germany, Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, China, South Korea, Cuba, Denmark, Lebanon, Spain, the United States, Slovakia, France, Israel, Italy, Japan, Morocco, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Serbia, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Of the 185 artists, 78 are participating in Art Madrid'26 for the first time and 107 are returning, reflecting a balance between innovation and continuity. Approximately 75% are national artists and the remaining 25% come from international galleries, ensuring a diverse range of styles, techniques, and discourses.


Carmen Mansilla. The color of silence. Inéditad Gallery.


We would like to highlight that this year the presence of female artists is particularly significant, exceeding the "50" barrier, following constant efforts to raise awareness of the importance of their participation in exhibition circuits, which remains essential. Of the 185 participants, 62 are women, and 33 of them are making their debut at the fair. These figures reflect, beyond a formal commitment, the continuous and silent work that our organization carries out to promote gender equality and give visibility to new voices in contemporary art, always from a realistic perspective and consistent with the structure of the sector. In this sense, the proposal and representation of female artists is a shared responsibility, in which the role of galleries is fundamental.


Carmen Baena. The garden blooms XI. Galería BAT alberto cornejo.


And if those figures haven't been enough to grab your attention, let's talk about the works you'll find at Art Madrid'26: most of them are recent creations (2023-2026).

You'll find around 2,000 works, ranging from painting and drawing to sculpture and assemblages, with sizes ranging from small formats (7×5 inches) to large canvases (79×59 inches). The main disciplines continue to be painting, sculpture, and drawing, without neglecting photography and installation. Among the paintings, oil and acrylic on classic supports (canvas, wood, board) predominate, although the use of mixed and contemporary techniques is also evident, combining oil, acrylic, spray paint, and collage on panel.

The drawings include graphite, charcoal, or pastel on paper or panel, sometimes mounted on board, and even unconventional supports such as leather. In the three-dimensional realm, we find materials as diverse as ceramics and glazed stoneware, resins and metals (steel, iron, aluminum) for industrial sculptures, carved or assembled natural wood, and organic fragments (conifer, linden, and cypress logs) integrated with natural dyes. In short, the works combine classical, industrial, and organic media, reflecting the technical diversity of contemporary art today.

A significant number of artists are participating in the fair for the first time, addressing issues such as migration, racial and gender identities, sustainability, the deconstruction of traditional languages of representation, and critical reflection on art and its own system. Architecture, design, traditional craft, languages, and digital environments have also informed the exhibition proposals for this edition..


Ramón González Palazón. ST. LAVIO.


We welcome the artists of Art Madrid'26 with open arms because WE LOVE THE ARTISTS! We remain committed to promoting open creative dialogue. The works stand out for their technical quality and in-depth exploration of form, color, and texture. From evocative landscapes to intimate portraits and three-dimensional pieces, each creation reflects the artists' professional commitment, forming a collection of visually striking works that invite reflection on the nature of art and its relationship with the contemporary context. Because loving artists means, above all, viewing their work with the attention it deserves.


Han Bing. Family trees. LAVIO.


DISCOVER THE ARTISTS PARTICIPATING IN ART MADRID'26: