PARALLEL PROGRAM CITY TERRITORY. ART MADRID'25

OPEN BOOTH X NEBRIJA UNIVERSITY

Art Madrid, in its 20th edition, presents a Parallel Program dedicated to the conceptual theme City Territory. The city, understood as a permeable organism and a topography of shared meanings, serves as the stage for a thoughtful exploration of the impact of art on the spaces we inhabit.

The second edition of Open Booth stands out as a platform for emerging talent, reinforcing its commitment to supporting the artists of the future. This year, Open Booth x Nebrija University offers students from the Fine Arts program the opportunity to experience an art fair firsthand, connecting them with collectors, curators, and gallerists while providing a space to showcase their work within the professional art circuit.

As part of this initiative, undergraduate students in Fine Arts at Nebrija University present Bajotierras/Sobrenubes (DEL OSO, UN PELO), a collective installation exploring the relationship between the city and its surrounding territory. Led by professor and artist Luis Gárciga Romay, and supported by Liquitex, the project investigates -through geometry, landscape, and scale- how environments transform and how we navigate the intersection between the urban and the natural.

With the backing of Liquitex, a leading brand in professional acrylics, Open Booth x Nebrija University continues to establish itself as a space for experimentation and visibility, bringing young artists closer to both the public and key figures in the art world.

Boceto para Bajotierras/Sobrenubes (DEL OSO, UN PELO). Ximena Couttolenc. Cortesía Universidad Nebrija.

BAJOTIERRAS/SOBRENUBES. (DEL OSO, UN PELO)

The project proposed by the students of the Fine Arts program at Nebrija University is a kind of TOTAL BOOTH, a cohesive space that, through collaboration and the exchange of ideas, reflects the collective potential of all participants, elevating the artwork to a new dimension."

Starting from the breadth and depth of the concepts of TERRITORY and CITY, they approach these notions in alliance with the two established poles while remaining open to the expressive possibilities of other scales and combinations that these concepts may evoke. Territory is the geopolitical manifestation of a way of inhabiting space, it is both here and there, shaping how life is organized. It is the stage where resources and hierarchical powers are dictated, interpreted, and transformed.

Boceto para Bajotierras/Sobrenubes (DEL OSO, UN PELO). Cortesía Universidad Nebrija.

Territory is not separate from the place of our emotions, exaltations, doubts, and hopes. Nor do its border confines distance themselves from the most abstract geometric expression. Sometimes a line delimits and marks, creates a corner, an inclined plane; it evokes an emotion, thus generating a vital region. The universality of geometry allows us to position, locate, confront, critique, and propose. Lines, areas, volumes are imbued with colors according to the contexts we live in and the paradigms we uphold. The horizon line and our existential perspectives are interrupted by the natural or built landscape, bringing to our feet a shore and, with it, floating objects, between drift and design. A controlled avalanche, sometimes in its causes, at other times, in its consequences.

Boceto para Bajotierras/Sobrenubes (DEL OSO, UN PELO). Cortesía Universidad Nebrija.

WHAT SHAPES US. Conformity and Re-formation

The city is divine and underground, buried and celestial, made simultaneously of the lightness of the superfluous and the dense gravity. It lives, sometimes hibernates, but always promises. Between conformity and ambition, we achieve something: a good corner between the terrace and the basement, a good "from here onward".

The Open Booth is organized into four interconnected spaces: Avalanche, inspired by the mountains and the river, with objects shaped by the passage of time; Constelar, where floating lamps evoke memory and aspirations; Mar(ejada) Madrid, a conceptual shore designed for contemplation and dialogue; and A Bear Called Tergiverso, a series of pieces that reinvent the city as an ever-changing organism.

The following participants are representing Universidad Nebrija in Open Booth: Blanca Lanaspa, Héctor Mendoza, Diana Díaz, Ainara Asensio, Rita Gentile, Ximena Couttolenc, Laura Nogales, Michelle Camhi, María Lucía Patiño, Andrea Bornstein, Andrea Manjón, Alis Qiu, Carlota Arias, Inés López, Jaime Muñoz, Marialex Arcaya, Melina Fernández, Mónica Escartín, Rebeca Rodríguez, and Belén Sierra.

Boceto para Bajotierras/Sobrenubes (DEL OSO, UN PELO). Cortesía Universidad Nebrija.

In Madrid, the Fine Arts students at Nebrija University question and propose the MATERIALITY and MATERIALS of a constellation where the notions of territory and city coexist with great presence, yet with a subtle protagonism. Procedures, methods, processes; the ways in which we transform the world into a very specific place, more diverse than a country, unfolding beyond a map or a file, yet portable in a pocket. Monuments, miniatures, the human scale. Space overflows and synchronously fits into a single verse. A verse is matter resistant to gravity and time, capable of becoming more than earth and more than cloud, managing to metamorphose and mimic what we are made of.

Luis Gárciga. Curator

Boceto para Bajotierras/Sobrenubes (DEL OSO, UN PELO). Cortesía Universidad Nebrija.

Thanks to initiatives such as these, students not only hone their technical and conceptual skills, but also develop fundamental competences for their professional future in the world of art, design and the creative industries. Through teamwork, the exploration of artistic references, the promotion of creativity and critical thinking, they are prepared to face the challenges of their discipline with a broad and multidisciplinary vision.

From Nebrija University, we would like to express our most sincere thanks to Amaya Hernández, director of the Degree in Digital Design and Multimedia, and Lorena Palomino, director of the Degree in Fine Arts, for their invaluable support and commitment to this project.

Prof. Dr. Pablo Álvarez de Toledo Müller Director of the Art Department Faculty of Communication and Arts. University of Nebrija

Art Madrid’26 presents One Shot Collectors, a program sponsored by One Shot Hotels that returns to the fair -now in its sixth edition- with the goal of making contemporary art collecting more accessible and encouraging new and established collectors alike. The initiative is designed to support both art professionals and new audiences interested in starting or strengthening a collection by providing tools, knowledge, and specialized guidance.

One Shot Collectors promotes an informed and approachable way of acquiring artworks, understanding collecting as a process that requires discernment, context, and time. The program serves as a bridge between the public and the artworks presented at the fair, fostering a confident and well-informed relationship with the art market.

The program is directed by Ana Suárez Gisbert, an art advisor with extensive experience in the art market. Her background includes artwork valuation and appraisal, as well as personalized advisory services throughout the acquisition process, helping participants identify works that align with their interests, budget, and goals. Her approach combines technical rigor with a strong commitment to best practices and sustainability within the art ecosystem.

Art collecting goes beyond the purchase of a single work. It involves an intellectual, aesthetic, and personal journey that connects collectors with the artist’s context, discourse, and creative process. Building a collection means developing a personal point of view, making informed decisions, and allowing the collection to evolve coherently over time, guided by enjoyment and confidence in one’s own taste.

So how do we decide where to focus and how to move forward? Where do we begin? How does one purchase connect to the next? A successful acquisition comes from following personal interests, learning to recognize what truly resonates with us, and staying informed before and throughout the process.

During Art Madrid’26, One Shot Collectors offered a personalized advisory service tailored to different profiles: established collectors, individuals acquiring their first artwork, and companies interested in developing collections aligned with their values and brand identity. The program adapts to a wide range of needs and offers customized tours of the fair based on aesthetic, conceptual, and budget considerations.

Our Art Advisor prepares a curated selection of artworks according to each buyer’s criteria and provides support throughout the negotiation process, offering a professional and strategic perspective. In this way, collecting becomes an informed, coherent, and rewarding experience.

Beginning a collection may stem from a desire for knowledge and aesthetic, social, economic, or even corporate exploration. At Art Madrid, we encourage collecting among individuals and companies interested in patronage and investment. This initiative is aimed at both professionals and contemporary art enthusiasts who wish to start or continue building a collection. Art Madrid presents a wide variety of works across disciplines such as photography, painting, sculpture, and installation, spanning a broad range of price points.

Whether you are an experienced collector, a first-time buyer, or a company seeking to express its values through art, the One Shot Collectors program offers a comprehensive experience.

ABOUT ONE SHOT HOTELS. SPONSOR OF ART MADRID

One Shot Hotels is a collection of 14 boutique hotels set in some of the most desirable locations in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, San Sebastián, and Porto. In 2026, the brand will expand its presence with new openings in three additional destinations: Ibiza, Lisbon, and Bilbao. Each property embodies a strong commitment to design, creativity, and aesthetics, seamlessly weaving art and culture into every space.

More than places to stay, One Shot Hotels are destinations with soul. Every interior reflects artistic sensitivity and an uncompromising attention to detail, offering guests a memorable experience where comfort, style, and culture coexist effortlessly. A spirit of closeness, innovation, and a deep passion for the arts defines the brand’s identity and shapes the way it connects people with the creative essence of each city it inhabits.

Through initiatives such as One Shot Collectors, the hotel group brings art and culture closer to both guests and visitors, fostering meaningful connections between its hotel spaces and the creative pulse of each destination.

ABOUT ANA SUÁREZ GISBERT. PROGRAM ART ADVISOR

Ana Suárez Gisbert holds a law degree from Complutense University of Madrid, with a specialization in international law and the international trade of artworks. She is a certified art and antiques appraiser and court-appointed expert through Antonio de Nebrija University, and a partner at the art appraisal firm Art Value Project.

She has carried out appraisal work for major collections and insurance companies and has represented leading international publications in the fields of art and design, including Frieze, Frieze Masters, and Gagosian. She currently combines her work at the appraisal firm with an art and sustainability project for private companies and municipal institutions

The advisory service is part of Art Madrid’26 One Shot Collectors Program and is completely free for participants who register in advance. To receive personalized advice, please request more information at vip@art-madrid.com or register using the following form: