ARCOmadrid 2023 returns to Ifema Madrid from February 22 to 26, aiming to rebound pre-pandemic numbers and counter the two-year slowdown in the contemporary art market.
Officials at the press conference emphasized optimism about a strong turnout. They projected that the 2020 sales level could be reclaimed, with a figure around 90 thousand visitors, while noting that current year figures should align with, or slightly exceed, those seen before the pandemic. Juan Arrizabalaga, the general manager of Ifema Madrid, cautioned that the fair does not publish a detailed bill breakdown.
Arrizabalaga highlighted the robust gallery interest as essential to the fair’s success, calling this edition a pivotal moment. He expressed hope that ARCOmadrid would catalyze renewed momentum in the market after the slowdown of the past two years.
Director Maribel López echoed the focus on participation quality, acknowledging that inflation could influence decisions but stressing the importance of galleries’ engagement. The evaluation framework relies on feedback from participating galleries and the fair’s broader ecosystem rather than on external projects, she explained.
In total, the edition will feature 211 exhibiting galleries from 36 countries, with 170 in the general program. This reflects a 66 percent foreign gallery presence and reinforces ARCOmadrid’s commitment to internationalization. The organizers also anticipate a record turnout of more than 400 collectors, as suggested by the participating galleries.
The committee met in September and observed strong interest from international galleries, with many confirming participation in October, López announced. Typical fair figures hover around 200 galleries, a balance the organizers intend to maintain to protect the domestic scene while expanding global reach.
Internationalization at ARCO
Efforts to balance supply and demand have guided the decision to keep the gallery count steady. The leadership notes that removing any national participants could hurt the local scene, so the strategy remains careful and responsible, maintaining the national presence as a stable core while growing international ties.
The push toward broader international representation is also framed against peers in the industry, including events like Art Basel. López remarked that rankings can distort perception, and ARCO focuses on its own trajectory and health rather than chasing external comparisons.
What sets ARCO apart, she noted, is a willingness to move beyond familiar patterns and explore quality in ways that other fairs may not pursue. The aim is to offer a distinct research path and experience, not to imitate others—an orientation López reinforced when discussing the fair’s evolving profile.
Spaces for Female Artists
López highlighted a concerted emphasis on female artists at ARCO Madrid. She explained that while the fair does not dictate gallery programming, it increasingly recognizes proposals that advance gender parity within the presented projects. Some spaces are dedicated to female artists, a choice she described as not limiting but expanding opportunity for representation.
For this edition, the central research theme is Mediterranean: A Round Sea, curated by Marina Fokidis. Two additional curated segments will explore Evolution Gallery, and It’s Never the Same Again, with a focus on Latin American art, further expanding the fair’s curatorial breadth and regional dialogue.