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.

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.