Yesterday, Zona Maco, Mexico City’s biggest art fair, opened its 21st edition at Citibanamex Convention Center. This year’s programming includes the addition of 39 new exhibiting galleries, along with happenings across 90 of the city’s independent galleries, museums, and cultural institutions.
The fair will conclude on Feb. 9 with two significant milestones. First, tthe Erarta Foundation will award the Zona Maco Art Prize, which includes a $100,000 contribution to an artist and their gallery, as voted on by fair attendees. It’s “the largest financial award at an art fair,” according to founder Zélika García. The second is the fair’s blowout celebration, Artsy Nights, which will feature performances headlined by Honey Dijon. “Mexico City stands as a cultural epicenter during la Semana del Arte,” says García, who spoke with Surface about several of the most exciting galleries exhibiting for the first time at this year’s edition of the fair.
Charim Galerie (Vienna, Austria)
We are thrilled to welcome Charim Gallery from Vienna to the fair for the first time, presenting an exquisitely curated dialogue between iconic performative artists and contemporary voices. The booth brings together groundbreaking works by legendary artists Ulay and Valie Export in conversation with compelling pieces by Eva Beresin, Eiko Gröschl, and Stephen Willats.
Swivel Gallery (New York, NY)
Rodrigo Ramírez is a captivating Mexican artist who transforms ancient Mesoamerican cosmology into powerful contemporary paintings. His solo presentation at Zona Maco Ejes with Swivel Gallery explores the nine layers of the infraworld through interconnected works that bridge centuries of cultural understanding.
OSL Contemporary (Oslo, Norway)
We’re delighted to feature Norwegian powerhouse Vanessa Baird for the first time in Mexico at Zona Maco Sur. Her provocative watercolors create a striking mural installation that explores the Global South as an ideological space. The way she blends Nordic folklore with biting social commentary and surreal domesticity is fascinating.
K Contemporary (Denver, CO)
We’re excited to present the powerful work of Marielle Plaisir, brought to us by K Contemporary from Denver. This French-Caribbean multidisciplinary artist masterfully combines traditional and digital mediums to explore colonial histories and social justice. Her fearless approach to mixing painting, ceramics, VR, and performance creates mesmerizing installations that both challenge and enchant. Plaisir’s work brings an urgent contemporary voice to historical narratives of power and identity.
