MADRID.- ARCOmadrid 2020, organised by IFEMA, closes its 39th edition with significant sales, confirming the strength of the art market and the ongoing support of Spain’s leading international contemporary art Fair. This year’s edition saw around 93,000 visitors and high attendance by key national and international collectors as well as other key players from the contemporary art world and public alike.
With the participation of 209 top-tier galleries, from 30 countries, the Fair re-affirms its commitment to placing quality artistic content at the forefront of its programming. This edition has also seen strengthened collaboration between galleries and artists, which together with the extensive work done by the Organising Committee and the curators has reinforced the strength of this year’s edition.
The reporting of strong sales, and robust quality of collectors and guests, were the key to success behind this year’s International Contemporary Art Fair, which was inaugurated Thursday 27th March by the King and Queen of Spain.
Several gallery owners reported positive feedback on this year’s edition of the Fair. “There has been an excellent level of the best Spanish collecting,” said Leandro Navarro, adding that they are happy with the level of sales and feel that the Fair has been beneficial for them. Casado Santapau also highlighted the "great level of collectors", considering ARCO to be “a solid fair.” José de la Mano, who presented a daring project by six unknown female artists, confirmed that they have sold a selection of key works exhibited, thus achieving better results than in previous editions. “Our buyers included the Museo Reina Sofía and Fundación María Cristina Masaveu Peterson. We are proof that a female focused presentation with serious and thought-provoking research works perfectly”. Perrotin’s selection of artists has also been very well received by collectors and visitors. From the Opening section, the gallery The Pill describe their first participation in ARCO as “very dynamic; there has been a great response to our proposal by curators, professionals and collectors” during an edition in which they have sold to “excellent collections from very different countries.” Galerie Thomas Schulte have highlighted the sale of three important works, while Lelong explained that works by Spanish artists such as Plensa, Miró and Juan Uslé have sold well. Elvira González and 1 Mira Madrid have also expressed their satisfaction with their participation in the fair and have made several sales.
ACQUISITIONS
Fundación ARCO has expanded its Collection with the acquisition at ARCOmadrid 2020 of 9 works by 6 artists, paid for with the proceeds of the Fundación ARCO Dinner held at the Casino de Madrid on Tuesday 25 February. The works acquired, with the advice of Vincent Honoré and María Inés Rodríguez, are by 6 artists from 6 galleries participating in the 39th edition of the International Contemporary Art Fair, ARCOmadrid: Caroline Achaintre (Arcade), Anna Bella Geiger (Galería Aural), Feliza Bursztyn (Casas Riegner), Carolina Cayzedo (Francisco Fino), and Nohemí Pérez (Instituto de Visión). In addition, the work of June Crespo (Carreras Múgica), acquired by the International Council of Fundación ARCO.
This year once again the Museo Reina Sofía enriched its Collection with the acquisition of new works from galleries participating in the Fair. A selection of 13 works by Cabello/Carceller, Victoria Gil, Sara Ramo, Henrik Olesen, Daniela Ortiz, Jacqueline Mesmaeker and Ana Buenaventura become part of the Museum's permanent collection. The total value of the purchases amounts to around €206,000.
DKV Insurance purchased, among others, works by Irma Álvarez-Laviada (Luis Adelantado), Belén Rodríguez (Alarcón Criado), Clara Sánchez Sala (ATM), Kiko Pérez (Heinrich Ehrhardt), Itziar Barrio (Àngels Barcelona), and Gala Knörr (T20).
Fundación Helga de Alvear has acquired works by Roy Lichtenstein, Larry Bell, Albrecht Schnider, Ania Soliman, Miguel Angel Campano, Maria Droc, Vera Chaves Barcellos, David Claerbout, Tobias Rehberger and Etel Adnan.
Additionally, Fundación Maria Cristina Masaveu Peterson purchased Works by Joan Hernández Pijuán (Galeria Cayón), Ángela de la Cruz (CarreasMugica), Miguel Ángel Campano (Juana de Aizpuru), María Luisa Fernández (Maisterravalbuena), Alicia Viebrock (Heinrich Ehrhardt), Túlio Pinto (Senda), Aurelia Muñoz (Jose de la Mano), Pepe Espaliú (García Galería), Pablo Gargallo, Darío Villalba (Leandro Navarro), and Equipo 57 (Guillermo de Osma.
Finally, Abadía Retuerta has acquired a work by Miguel Marina (Galería Nordés).
AWARDS AT ARCOmadrid
Domestic and international institutions share the commitment to support and recognise artistic creation at ARCOmadrid through a variety of awards. The Community of Madrid has distinguished the work of José Díaz (The Goma), Nora Aurrekoetxea and Osías Yanov (Juan Silió) in the 17th edition of the ARCO/Community of Madrid Award for Young Artists.
For another year, illycaffè supported young emerging artists participating in ARCOmadrid with the illy SustainArt Award, presented to the Guatemalan artist Hellen Ascoli (Proyectos Ultravioleta), whose creations draw deeply from the traditional textile traditions of Guatemala.
For its part, Cervezas Alhambra presented the fourth edition of its Cervezas Alhambra Award for Emerging Art to the artist Irma Álvarez-Laviada for her work Plano y vertical. Pedestal No. 0, chosen by an international jury of experts from among the five finalists.
Daniel Steegmann Mangrané was the winner of the fourth edition of the Catalina D'Anglade Awards for his work Geometric Nature/Biology, 2011, exhibited by Berlin-based gallery Esther Schipper. And the artist Asunción Molinos Gordo, represented by Travesía Cuatro, won the ARTSituations Award, which recognises the best emerging artwork at the fair.
In its 15th edition, the ARCO-BEEP Electronic Art Award was awarded to the work Prosopagnosia by the artist Joan Fontcuberta from the Àngels Barcelona gallery.
ARCOmadrid 2021 will hold its 40th Anniversary Fair from 24 to 28 February in halls 7 and 9 of IFEMA.
