Artists Nicolás Laiz Placeres and Alona Harpaz are on show for the first time in Art Madrid, within the Galería ATC from Tenerife, presenting a collection where the wild is created through a space configured by the incursion of the human being in it.

Harpaz merges, over flat coloured backgrounds, expressionists figures and self-portraits mixed with wildlife and flora made with vibrant colours. Therefore, in her paintings, we can see a mixture between the beautiful and the terrifying. On the other hand, Laiz Paredes sculptures, have Nature and Human Being as elements in a disappearance process, mixed with objects which configure the reason of that destruction itself, creating iconic, almost monochromatic, three-dimensional shapes.

Alona Harpaz

I'm not here for your dream, 2019

Acrilico, spray y colores industriales sobre lienzo

140 x 150cm

Nicolás Laiz

Política Natural III, 2018

Resina, fibra de vidrio, aridos y pintura doble componente

80 x 30cm

Alona Harpaz (Tel Aviv, Israel, 1971) represents in her self-portraits botanic and animal patterns, applying a very personal and imaginative colour scheme, using a strong and vibrant brushstroke over, in many cases, merely decorative surfaces. In her work, colours exist by themselves, freely, but also as abstract well-mimicked elements or recognizable symbols. According to her, “perfectly beautiful paintings can also be dreadful”, and political commitment could be added to beauty and dreadfulness, as the critic Elke Buhruna points out. A sample of this could be seen in her work “Frequency Watchers”, which is a self-portrait of the artist riding a motorcycle, alluding to the 90s feminist movement in the United States, as Riot Grrrl and the Bikini Kill band, who combined feminism and pink lipstick. Therefore, her personality includes the political activism of her father (a Labour Zionist) and the artistic taste of her mother (a dancer).

Alona Harpaz

Frequency Watchers, 2018

Acrilico, spray y colores industriales sobre lienzo

80 x 100cm

Nicolás Laiz Placeres (Lanzarote, 1975), in his three-dimensional pieces, creates a confluence using objects of nature and industrial or genuinely pollutant materials, making a dichotomy between them. From this seemingly simple fusion, the artist is able to send a deeply elaborated message, with a critic tone, to a society that has led to overproduction and extreme and dangerous consumerism and, at the same time, using miscellaneous objects from the Isle’s “topic” iconography: shells, rocks and prickly pears blends with plastic bottles, totems and cranial shapes, creating iconic figures with advertising motifs of the extreme natural disaster situation that the Earth is facing. Finally, in a display of constant irony, his sculptures function as magical shapes that heal our status quo.

In the cage, the Alona Harpaz paintings howl next to the totems and fetish which his space partner Nicolás Laiz Placeres has made, mainly from different identity elements of Canary Islands.

Nicolás Laiz

Política Natural I, 2018

Resina, fibra de vidrio, aridos y pintura doble componente

80 x 30cm

Galería ATC located in the heart of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, participates for the first time in Art Madrid with an unreleased project, dedicated to these two artists which is forming part of the One Project program, coordinated by the art critic and independent curator Fernando Gómez de la Cuesta, under the theme “Salvajes: la cage aux fauves”.

Galería ATC was founded in 2017 by Elle Przybyla (USA) and Juan Matos Capote (Spain) as a part of the Agencia de Tránsitos Culturales - est. in 2014 -, a platform for multidisciplinar artistic investigation and the promotion of contemporary art. The gallery has an annual program featuring various exposicions of spanish and international artists, working with different media: painting, sculpture, video, photography, installations and sound art. In addition to these expositions, the Gallery arranges performances, conferences and other activities. From Canary Islands, Galería ATC grows dynamic relationships between the fringe and the cultural production centres. Their roots in Spain and USA and their imminent connection to Africa, allow them to operate as a cultural intersection space. Their program reflects the commitment to support artists with plenty of voices and in different moments of their careers.

Galería ATC will present, within the One Project project of Art Madrid, unseen art works by the artists Alona Harpaz and Nicolás Laiz Placeres.

Art Madrid presents the second edition of its Patronage Program, an initiative aimed at reinforcing its commitment to contemporary artistic production and the promotion of collecting. The program articulates several lines of support designed to enhance the visibility of participating artists, promote recognition of emerging careers, and consolidate sustainable relationships among artists, galleries, and collectors—thereby strengthening the professional ecosystem surrounding the fair.

This edition is supported by leading institutions, private collections, and companies committed to the development of contemporary art. The involvement of the private sector is essential in consolidating a sustainable model of support for artistic creation, understanding investment in art as a driver of innovation, prestige, and cultural responsibility. The program is further reinforced by the active participation of patrons who, through acquisitions and support of emerging artists, contribute to generating tangible opportunities and strengthening the artistic landscape.

Within this framework, the program includes the One Shot Hotels Revelation Award, a distinction intended to highlight a proposal that, through its singularity and strength, makes a particularly powerful entrance into the contemporary landscape. Through this award, One Shot Hotels, official sponsor of Art Madrid’26, reinforces its commitment to increasing visibility and supporting new voices within the contemporary art scene.

Meanwhile, the Cervezas Alhambra Emerging Artist Award focuses on the projection and consistency of a developing career, recognizing sustained processes and distinctive artistic languages within the most recent generation of creators. Through this initiative, Cervezas Alhambra reaffirms its commitment to new generations and to the ongoing support of contemporary artistic production.

The artists recognized in both awards will be announced shortly.

Acquisition Awards

Four entities — Studiolo Collection, E2IN2 Collection, Devesa Law, and dn2 Collection — reaffirm their commitment to contemporary art through the acquisition of works by artists participating in the fair. Their engagement not only contributes to the dissemination of contemporary art but also supports artists’ professional development and strengthens the collecting ecosystem. These initiatives are essential to ensuring the continuity and long-term projection of artistic careers. Through these Acquisition Awards, the selected works will enter prominent private collections, guaranteeing their preservation, study, and circulation within the art world.

About One Shot Hotels

One Shot Hotels is a collection of 14 boutique hotels located in prime areas of Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, San Sebastián, and Porto. In 2026, the brand will expand to three new destinations: Ibiza, Lisbon, and Bilbao.

Each hotel reflects a commitment to design, creativity, and aesthetics, authentically integrating art and culture throughout its spaces. More than accommodations, the hotels are places with soul—each environment conveys artistic sensibility and attention to detail, offering guests a memorable stay that combines comfort, style, and culture.

Proximity, innovation, and a passion for the arts define the brand’s identity and shape how One Shot Hotels connects people with the creativity of each city in which it operates. The hotel group brings art and culture closer to guests and visitors, fostering authentic connections between its spaces and the creative spirit of each location.

About Cervezas Alhambra

Art Madrid is officially sponsored by Cervezas Alhambra, in line with its longstanding commitment to supporting contemporary artistic creation.

True to its philosophy, the brand promotes initiatives that celebrate unhurried craftsmanship, artisanal dedication, and the beauty found in details—values it has cultivated for over a century since its origins in Granada. Its support of artistic creation reflects a way of living and experiencing through all five senses, inviting audiences to slow down and engage with experiences that go beyond the purely visual.

Its cultural engagement is a natural extension of its brewing philosophy: a process rooted in knowledge, passion, and dedication, resulting in unique, authentic, and memorable creations. In this way, Cervezas Alhambra continues to accompany artists and creators, emphasizing process and reminding us that—just as in art—there is an essential ingredient in its beers: time.

About Colección Studiolo

Colección Studiolo, founded by Candela Álvarez Soldevilla, is a private initiative dedicated to the acquisition and promotion of modern and contemporary art. Inspired by the concept of the studiolo as a space for contemplation and thought, the collection brings together works across diverse artistic languages, with particular attention to 20th-century avant-gardes and contemporary artists. It understands collecting as a long-term commitment and sustained support for artistic practice.

About E2IN2 Collection

E2IN2 is an entity engaged in projects that generate significant economic and social value. The organization supports artistic talent and is currently seeking collaborators with whom to exhibit works from its art collection.

About Devesa Law

Devesa is a national law firm specialized in business law. Its mission is to provide value to companies, investors, and institutions operating in Spain through outstanding legal and tax services. Founded in 2007, the firm currently maintains offices in Madrid, Alicante, and Valencia, from which it serves clients nationwide.

About dn2 Collection

Colección dn2, based in Gran Canaria, is a private initiative dedicated to the acquisition and promotion of national and international contemporary art. Since its inception, it has developed a continuously growing collection characterized by diversity of artistic languages and a strong commitment to emerging and mid-career artists. The collection views acquisition as a long-term act of support and commitment to artists’ careers.