For four days, the eighth edition of the contemporary art fair returns to the Cordoaria Nacional building, bringing together galleries from 17 countries, including 30 from Portugal and 53 from abroad, with a strong presence from Spain, Germany, Italy, and Brazil.
The wings of the historic building buzz with preparations to showcase contemporary art in various formats, including photography, sculpture, painting, tile, collage, drawing, and installation.
Fernando Santos, a gallerist from Porto, expressed his expectations for the new edition of ARCOlisboa to Lusa: “I hope it brings a positive year as it has in the past.”
“This fair is excellent because it represents a large number of Portuguese galleries, alongside a significant number of international ones,” evaluated Santos while overseeing the installation of works by the six artists featured in his booth.
The manager of Galeria Fernando Santos, established over 30 years ago, noted that “sometimes fairs go well, other times less so.”
“This is a small country with a significant cultural component, and hosting this fair is crucial as it allows showcasing quality to collectors and creating a new audience,” he added.
Reflecting on past editions, the gallerist remarked, “The year 2024 was successful. We sold almost everything, and this year we hope to showcase great works.”
The Porto gallery will present works by Spanish artist Santiago Ydánez and Portuguese artists João Louro, Pedro Calapez, Ana Vidigal, Pedro Valdez Cardoso, and Gerardo Burmester.
“These are selected works with a strong quality component. It is necessary to attract a new audience. We also have an educational role to showcase the best of what is done in Portugal. Supporting culture is vital,” he advocated.
After previous editions of ARCOlisboa offered free entry to young people up to 25 years old for one afternoon, the organizers have extended this access to two afternoons, Friday (May 30) and Saturday (May 31), starting at 3:00 p.m.
For Fernando Santos, extending free entry to two days “is important to ensure that young people have access and conditions to cultivate taste.”
“This project involves a significant investment by ARCO – Ifema from Madrid, the Lisbon City Council, and the gallerists, who pay for their space,” he explained.
Sao Paulo’s Galeria Zielinsky has consistently participated in ARCOlisboa, considering it an “interesting fair in terms of galleries and the public.”
“We participate every year in this fair because it connects a European and Brazilian audience. Since we are based in Sao Paulo and Barcelona, this fair creates a bridge between Brazil and Europe,” commented gallerist Ricardo Zielinsky to Lusa.
With high expectations for this year’s edition, the gallery selected Brazilian artists Dedé Lins, Denise Milan, Shirley Pais Leme, Valdirlei Dias Nunes.
Visitors can also discover works by emerging Panamanian artist Cisco Merel, whose clay and painting work addresses immigration issues, and who represented Panama at the Venice Biennale in 2024, the country’s first official pavilion.
All these artists explore the themes of movement and dynamics—each with their language and different materials—focusing on the synergy between peoples.
“Portugal is at an interesting moment in contemporary art, with both Portuguese and foreign audiences visiting the fair frequently,” Ricardo Zielinsky told Lusa.
The fair consists of three sections: the General Program with 61 galleries, Opening Lisboa curated by Sofia Lanusse and Diogo Pinto with 18 galleries, and “The Shapes of the Ocean,” curated by Paula Nascimento and Igor Simões, focusing on Africa, its diaspora, and other geographies in five galleries.
The international program will bring 150 guests to Lisbon, including museum directors, curators, gallerists, and other industry professionals, “to give visibility to the fair and to spark interest in the city’s offerings in this area,” noted the organizer to Lusa.
In the past three years, attendance at ARCOlisboa increased from 11,000 in 2022 to over 13,000 in 2023 and 2024, according to the organization’s figures.
This year, new awards will be introduced, including the Armando Martins Contemporary Art Museum Acquisition Prize (MACAM), launched at ARCOmadrid, and the Studiolo Collection Acquisition Prize by Spanish collector Candela A. Soldevilla.
In addition to these, the Opening Lisboa Prize, the Millennium bcp Foundation Prize for Best Stand, and acquisitions by the ARCO Foundation and Lisbon City Council are maintained.
The General Program will feature debuts by galleries such as Travesia Quatro, Duarte Sequeira, Set Espai d´Art, and Each Modern, while others will return after a hiatus, such as Vermelho, Nuno Centeno, Rosa Santos, Fonseca Macedo, and Galeria de Las Misiones, joining regulars like Portuguese galleries Vera Cortês, Francisco Fino, Madragoa, and Cristina Guerra Contemporary Art.
This section will also feature solo projects by artists such as Diogo Pimentão, Miki Leal, Andrei Ibarra, Amélie Esterházy, Sonia Navarro, Justin Weiler, and Manuel M. Romero, among others.
The curated section “The Shapes of the Ocean” will include five galleries: African Arty (Morocco), Afronova (South Africa), Christophe Person (France), Karla Osorio (Brazil), and Reiners Contemporary Art (Spain).
This eighth edition of ARCOlisboa also includes visits to museums and art galleries, book launches, talks, and debates.
The official opening of ARCOlisboa is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at the Cordoaria Nacional, with the presence of the Minister of Culture, Dalila Rodrigues, and the Mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, who will tour the fair with the guests.
