In its seventeen previous editions, the Art Madrid fair has been a stage where Portuguese galleries have met, turning our event into an unmissable appointment to discover and appreciate the news of an essential representation of the Portuguese visual arts production. And lay on the table the interest in these established spaces and their market internationalization inside and outside Portugal. From February 22 to 26 galleries, already familiar with the fair's context, return: Art Lounge Gallery, (Lisbon), Nuno Sacramento Arte Contemporânea, (Ílhavo), Galeria São Mamede, (Lisbon) and Trema Arte Contemporânea, (Lisbon) joins the roast. Twenty artists will land in our capital thanks to these spaces to show their most recent works. Painting, photography, sculpture and drawing prevail in this edition.

Lúcia Davis, “Rubbish”. Trema Arte Contemporáneo ©

The galleries' exhibition proposals stand out for the support and materials experimentation. From poetic-plastic rereadings of everyday objects (Trema Arte Contemporânea); the disruption of photography (Nuno Sacramento Arte Contemporânea); painting and drawing as experiential tools (São Mamede Gallery), and the interrelation between pictorial exercise and the space that contains it (Art Lounge Gallery). These brushstrokes shed light on the interest of each exponent to travel on the right foot in the paths of contemporary visual production in Portugal and its representation at the behest of the market.

Sofia Areal, “Coração e Noite” 2010. Galería São Mamede ©

Special attention deserves Trema Arte Contemporânea, which began its activity with a group of emerging Portuguese artists and nowadays is recognized in the Portuguese gallery circuit as one of the highest-level galleries. It has marked the eclecticism of the most current Portuguese art and other foreign artists with innovative projects for over twenty years. From its list, we want to highlight Carlos Barão, a spontaneous artist who focuses his research on the search for sensations that border on dreaminess within the painting. And the works of Lúcia David, who immerses herself in drawing to raise the roots of an imperfect and daring staging. Galeria São Mamede opened its doors in the sixties, and its interest has always been framed within the Portuguese modernism and contemporary movement. From its list, we highlight the participation of Sofía Areal one of the most important painters of her generation, and Nélio Saltão a self-taught artist with a meaningful career in painting and color experimentation.

João Noutel, “Future”, 2022. Art Lounge Gallery ©

While the series of portraits of Nuno Horta (Mirandela, Bragança, Portugal, 1977) repeats in ArtMadrid with Nuno Sacramento Arte Contemporânea. The great beauty is frozen in the approximations that this artist conjures up of the human figure, totally fanatical about the perfection and deification of the faces. Human physiognomy becomes an updated account of experimentation with fluorescent light and color in an intrinsic search for golden proportions. The treatment of postmodern icons in João Noutel work (Porto, Portugal, 1971) is another of the approaches that Art Lounge Gallery proposes to the painting. The artist works on an interesting pictorial proposal. He recounts the complex mechanisms of the image and its deconstruction or reconversion into an object of desire in the times that welcome us.

The Portuguese visual arts show, with these representations in our fair, the solid contemporary movement breathed into the gallery circuit to which they belong.

nuno Horta, “Dominion”, 2021. Nuno Sacramento Arte Contemporânea ©

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.