After an intense year of work, visits to galleries, meetings with artists, transatlantic trips to learn about other possible ways of thinking about a fair, we can see that the future of Art Madrid continues to be linked to the initiatives and desires of those who are trying to build a sustainable value proposal for the reality of the cultural context and specifically for contemporary art in Spain.

We return once again to the Galería de Cristal of the Palacio de Cibeles to welcome gallerists, artists, audiences, curators, critics, collectors and all the people who make Art Madrid a place to encounter each edition. This ephemeral home that our fair becomes for a week will celebrate its nineteenth anniversary in 2024. On the eve of our twentieth, a reminder is needed to catapult us towards the celebration.

Work by Katya Scheglova. Dr Robot Gallery. Image courtesy of Christian Monsalve of Too Many Flash.

After the first fifteen editions of Art Madrid, we began a curious obsession with numbers and the month of February. Since then, each time we begin the organizational season for the next edition, dates, days, and hours are turned into tiny goals to be achieved, in an attempt to ensure that the fair continues to be a source of vitality; that it does not lose its approachable and accessible essence; that the galleries risk more on their exhibition proposals; that the artists continue to feel part of this call that we are, and understand that without them, nothing would make sense. In other words, we allow ourselves to dream of a better contemporary art fair in the midst of a scenario that is sometimes difficult, but for us definitely hopeful. For the first time since the pandemic, Art Madrid, an event conceived for Art Week in February, is moving its calendar to March. This closes an infinite cycle of plans for the second month of the year and opens up new opportunities for March to orbit in our favor.

Art Madrid. Edition 16. Image courtesy of Christian Monsalve. Too Many Flash.

The preamble to the 19th edition was also a time to reflect on our obsession with editions, special editions, and special editions... And we understood that our Roman Empire of numbers and editions, that rare thing, is one we think about more than we should; it is not the fear of age, it is not because the years are weighing us down, or because we continue to be defined as a satellite fair. And here we open parentheses, (It is so beautiful the definition of a natural satellite: "A natural satellite is a celestial body that orbits around a planet. The satellite is usually smaller and accompanies the planet in its orbit around its mother star. Contrary to the fragments that orbit in a ring, the natural satellite is the only body in its orbit"). In fact, our Roman Empire is to ensure that the prestige that Art Madrid has achieved along the way is maintained in all the facets that an event of this magnitude touches: at the behest of the contemporary art market, in the eyes of our audience, and that we continue to be the first choice of galleries that bet on our project.

Work by Rodrigo Romero. 3 Punts Gallery. Image courtesy of Christian Monsalve. Too Many Flash.

Under the symbol of a satellite with a natural orbit, Art Madrid'24 opens with a General Program made up of thirty-six galleries and around two hundred artists representing the latest artistic trends on the national and international scene. And it presents a Parallel Program of activities that will take place in the pre-fair and during the week of the event. With the objective of encouraging new generations of artists and offering them a space for promotion in the contemporary art market circuit, the program is composed of Arte y Palabra. Conversations with Carlos del Amor; OPEN BOOTH featuring guest artist Marina Tellme; Intercessions X Tara for Women; Lecturas. Curated Walkthroughs; La Quedada. Art Madrid'24 Studio Visits and the Collecting Program: One Shot Collectors, which includes a consulting service for the acquisition of works by Ana Suárez Gisbert.

Art Madrid. Edition 18. View at Uxval Gochez Gallery. Image courtesy of Ricardo Perucha.

The program - a small celestial body - is a space dedicated to artists who transcend the established, who dream of new forms of expression, and who, through their art, contribute to the evolution and transformation of the artistic context. It is a living showcase for those who not only imagine, but also materialize their visions, turning the fair's stage into a fertile ground for change and creative innovation.

On this 19th anniversary of Art Madrid, we would like to remind ourselves that the future belongs to the dreamers. It is for those who have the ability to dream, to imagine and to create; for those who actively work to turn their aspirations into tangible reality, even against all obstacles. After an intense year of work, we continue to dream of a new Art Madrid for each special edition.

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.