LISBON.- ARCOlisboa, the fair jointly organised by IFEMA MADRID and Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, closed the doors on its 6th edition this past weekend evening with a positive balance and a very good sales rhythm. The art contents proposed by the participating galleries were the best possible to attract quality national and international collecting.
ARCOlisboa, which has once again enjoyed the commitment of the Portuguese government and local authorities, with the presence of the Minister for Culture and the president of the Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, together with the general manager of IFEMA MADRID at the opening act last May 25th, looks set to record 13,000 visitors, confirming its recovery and surpassing pre-pandemic figures.
On this edition, the International Contemporary Art Fair enjoyed the participation of 86 galleries from 23 countries, representing a 32% increase compared to the previous year and its participation record in its trajectory to date.
Located in the historic Cordoaria Nacional space, the fair has been consolidated as the major international contemporary art encounter in Portugal, and an essential tool to raise the visibility of Portuguese artists among the international institutions and over 150 collectors visiting it from Europe and America. The interest awoken by the participating galleries’ art proposals, along with the city’s social and cultural programme, has been the best lure for noteworthy international professionals and collectors.
ARCOlisboa will therefore close with a positive balance. From day one the optimism of collectors and institutions, which have closed numerous acquisitions, has been apparent. The purchases include those made by the Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, which acquired a total of 22 works by 10 artists: Andreia Santana -Filomena Soares-, António Bolota -Vera Cortês-, René Tavares -This is not a White Cube-, Jorge Molder -Miguel Nabinho-, Maria Trabulo -Presença-, Luísa Jacinto -Quadrado Azul Galeria-, Yonamine -Cristina Guerra Contemporary Art-, Adriana Molder -Galeria 111-, Dayana Lucas -Lehmann + Silva- and Daniela Ângelo -Francisco Fino Galeria-.
Fundaçao EDP has also acquired works for its collection. Some of its most outstanding purchases included 15 pieces by creators such as Eugénia Mussa -Monitor-, René Tavares -This is not a White Cube-, Sara Chang Yan -Madragoa-, Ana Manso -Pedro Cera-, Bruno Cidra -Bruno Múrias-, Hugo Brazão -Balcony Gallery- and Maria Durão -Kubikgallery-.
Additionally, Fundación ARCO, on the advice of Manuel Segade and João Laia, acquired works by the Brazilian artist Yuli Yamagata, from Madragoa gallery, and the Mexican artist Alejandra Venegas, from the Dürst Britt & Mayhew gallery, which will go on to form part of the Fundación ARCO Collection, deposited in CA2M Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo de la Comunidad de Madrid.
For its part, Vieira de Almeida increased the works in its collection with the purchase of a piece by Fernanda Fragateiro, from Filomena Soares.
As a novelty, relying on a jury comprising Filipa Oliveira and Ángel Calvo Ulloa, the First Fundação Millenium BCP Award for the best stand at the fair was granted to the gallery Vera Cortês.
For the fourth year, ARCOlisboa granted the Opening Lisboa Award. Its jury, made up of Beatriz Alonso, Ela Bittencourt, Lucía Casani, Natxo Checa, Bárbara Rodríguez, Manuel Segade and Luis Silva, distinguished the gallery Anca Poterasu -Bucharest-. The award goes to the best stand in the section, reimbursing the cost of its space at the fair.
ARCOlisboa is jointly organised by Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, with the support of DGARTES, Fundação EDP, Fundação Altice, Fundação Millennium BCP, MEXTO Property Investment, AC/E, Turismo de Portugal, Turismo de Lisboa, Kinda Homes, Bellissimo Cafés / Marca Grupo Nabeiro, Fundação Vasco Vieira de Almeida, Art Works and Ruinart, and the local coordination of Café Pessoa.
The seventh edition of ARCOlisboa will be held from May 22nd to 25th, 2024, at the Cordoaria Nacional.
