Tomorrow, Wednesday 12th February, the programme of activities developed by Art Madrid and the video art platform PROYECTOR starts. Under the curatorship of Mario Gutiérrez Cru and with the collaboration of the spaces MediaLab Prado and Sala Alcalá 31 the program is dedicated to video art, action art and new media.

The convergence between technology and art generates new languages and forms of artistic expression. From Art Madrid we want to bring the public closer to these disciplines by generating a direct dialogue with the creators where there are no intermediaries. Our commitment and one of the fundamental pillars of this programme are the practical and immersive activities in creation through master classes, meetings and presentations or a visit to an artist's studio.

To start this programme, the artist Patxi Araújo will give a master class tomorrow, Wednesday 12 February at 5:30 pm in the MediaLab Prado auditorium, where the following master classes by Olga Diego and Lois Patiño will also take place.

Under the title "All Prophets are Wrong" they will share their creative experience, the paths explored in communication and their productive processes incorporating technology without losing the burden of discourse.

Patxi Araújo develops his work in the territory of the poetics of new media. His work has been recognized and selected in different biennials, festivals and competitions of video art and electronic experimentation. A reflection that goes beyond aesthetics, and that runs between the digital and the human, between nature and artificial life. Places where the limits are diffuse, spaces where the public can delve together with the artist to know and understand the metaphoric of Patxi Araújo's work.

Later, at 8.30pm and as an opening, the interactive art work Sherezade will be shown for the first time. A site-specific creation by Patxi Araújo for the facade of MediaLab Prado. The art work is based on play. It is a random generation of sentences and phrases according to the position of the spectator in the front square of the facade. Just as automatic poetry emerges from the poet's entrails or from any other of his organs that have stored reserves, "Sherezade" elaborates literary proposals in the form of titles or epigraphs from a bank of words chosen by the author and stored in a virtual memory in random mode. The movement, presence or absence of people, animals or things in the square of MediaLab Prado determines that the program chooses among those words, and generates lapidary, poetic, absurd or sublime phrases. Therefore, if some kind of literary causality exists, it should be sought in the mixture of the activity in the square and the random mode which the words in the program emerge. Sherezade's memory today mixes 24 prepositions, 31 articles, 926 adjectives and 726 names of the Spanish language conjugated in the masculine singular.

The role of the public in this installation will be crucial to seeing it in operation. "Sherezade" will be available from sunset every day until mid-March.

On Thursday at 5:30pm we continue the programme with a master class by Olga Diego. An artist who combines scientific knowledge and art to create an installation area loaded with symbolism. Olga reflects on when the creative process becomes an art work in itself through all the material left behind in the testimonial process. The artist invites us to learn about the process and invention of the art work, how it works and will make a small exhibition when she puts some of these pieces into action. A space that aims to be a unique experience.

Olga Diego preparando "El jardín autómata", foto: Carolina Diego

To finish this cycle of master classes, the artist Lois Patiño proposes on Friday 14 at 5:30 pm an encounter in which he will trace different paths in his art works to discuss this intermediate space between contemporary art and cinema, the frontiers that separate them and that Lois proposes to dilute. Art Works that take the form of video installations, experimental fictions, video art pieces or creative documentaries. The still image and the moving image, visual abstraction and the impact of the new formats that transit in places where perhaps these frontiers should disappear.

Lois Patiño, fotograma de "Sol Rojo"

In order to obtain close knowledge and bring the public closer to a more detailed understanding of contemporary art, the opinion of professional experts in the field could not be lacking. On Thursday February 20 at 6:00 pm we will hold a round table in the collaborative space Sala Alcalá 31. Moderated by sound artist and composer Miguel Álvarez-Fernández, we will have Rafael Doctor, independent curator and cultural manager, Karin Ohlenschläger, critic, curator and director of activities of LABoral Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial, and Berta Sichel, cultural agent and curator director of Bureauphi Art Agency. The table will debate the evolution of the still image, passing through video art to the new media and will reflect on the current impact it has on creators and the society that enjoys and consumes it.

Converging in all the objectives of Art Madrid-Proyector'20 we have the visit to Eduardo Balanza's studio on February 22nd at 12:00 pm. This activity presents us with the possibility of getting to know the artist's workspace, understanding his creative process and understanding the application and techniques used to finally enjoy a small performance in this intimate space. Eduardo Balanza will show the audience how the "B71" works, an electro-acoustic instrument inspired by baroque organs with a manual and automatic system of operation activated by vibrating speakers on plates capable of connecting to weather data websites.

To visit Eduardo's workshop it is essential to register beforehand using the form

Eduardo Balanza, "B71"

All programming is open and free to the public, thus generating the opportunity to attend a diverse audience where the only requirement is the ability to be amazed and the willingness to live unique experiences in the art world.

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.