The 42nd edition of the Spanish art fair demonstrates the importance of the capital as a relevant artistic hub


211 attending art galleries of which 140 are international operators: from today, Wednesday 22 to Sunday 26 February, pavilions 7 and 9 of Ifema, the trade fair center of the Spanish capital, will host some of the world's leading gallery owners, ten of which are Italian (Galleria Continua, Enrico Astuni, Giorgio Persano, Laveronica Arte Contemporanea, MAAB Gallery, Pinksummer, Prometheus Gallery, Studio Trisorio, East Contemporary, M77 Gallery).
During the press conference event, the director Maribel Lopez underlined how the Spanish capital is the main European gateway for art from the Latin American continent. Going into the specifics of the 2023 installation, we observe a large number of galleries from Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico where ZONAMACO ended two weeks ago.
Despite this undeniable trait-d'union, which also continues in the city collateral events, one of the main themes of ARCO Madrid 2023 is the Mediterranean Sea. This is analyzed as the natural border of three continents and multiple intersecting cultures. Within this special project, 19 artists will be exhibited, including works by the Italian Letizia Battaglia and Maria Lai.







As usual, the Spanish artistic week will also be enlightened by collateral art fairs, no less than four. Starting from the historical ArtMadrid which proposes, in the Galería de Cristal of the Palazzo di Cibeles, mainly national operators, but also international ones such as the Bolognese Stefano Forni.
To arouse attention for its particular thematic is Urvanity Art Fair, focused on ultra-contemporary and urban art. It hosts 30 national and international galleries, including C+N Gallery Canepaneri. Obviously, various art installations displayed around the city center complete the art market exhibition.
Third event is JustMad, centered on the various aspects of digital art, which is held in a location not far from the Prado Museum.
Finally comes Hybrid, an exhibition that follows the style of some US spin-offs projects choosing the Hotel Petit Palace Santa Barbara as its location.







Looking at museums’ exhibitions, the one on Lucian Freud, entitled "New Perspectives", is not to be missed. After the inaugural stage at the National Gallery, the fifty masterpieces of the 20th century artist arrive at the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza.
A detailed retrospective on Leonora Carrington is underway at the Mapfre Foundation, with over 180 works including paintings, drawings, photographs and much more, while at the Prado Museum the temporary projects are dedicated to Fernando Zóbel and Joaquín Sorolla.
The Reina Sofia Museum, on the other hand, continues promoting Latin American art with the first European focus on the Guatemalan Margarita Azurdía.
Instead the Montemadrid Banking Foundation brings the artworks of the young Brazilian Maxwell Alexander into the space of La Casa Encendida.
On balance, given the premises, Madrid could really earn a respectable place among the European capitals of the art market.