ArPa highlights Latin American artists at art fair in Pacaembu

ArPa, a contemporary art fair, is kicking off its fourth edition at Pacaembu, bringing together 60 galleries and highlighting artists from Latin America until Sunday.
ArPa, an art fair that celebrates contemporary production from Latin America, is holding its fourth edition this Wednesday, September 28, at Mercado Livre Arena Pacaembu. The event, which will run until Sunday, brings together approximately 60 galleries, including 14 international ones, with a special focus on art from neighboring countries.

Among the participants, the Colombian Casas Riegner stands out, presenting the artist Camila Rodríguez Triana, whose works explore issues of ancestry, identity and territory. The Argentine gallery Ruth Benzacar is presenting the work of Florencia Rodrigues Giles, who approaches the body as a space of tension and transformation. From Mexico, Campeche is showing Alicia Ayanegui, who investigates domestic space and memory in her creations.

Camilla Barella, general director of ArPa, explains that the fair's aim is to foster direct dialogue with the national art scene. "We are close to these countries and we realize that many of the challenges they face are similar. Therefore, this exchange of artistic productions, interests and knowledge is essential," she says.

The data obtained by the ArPa Survey, which will be released in full during the opening of the event, reinforce the relevance of the focus on Latin America. Conducted in partnership with Agência Galo between April 1 and May 21, the survey aimed to map the expectations of artists, gallery owners, collectors and consultants. Of the 295 agents in the Brazilian art market who responded to the questionnaire, 88% indicated an increase in international interest in artists from the region, while 43% reported a slight increase in sales.

ArPa also stands out for its aim to provide a deep artistic immersion, by presenting a limited number of artists, allowing a more comprehensive appreciation of their works. Colombian consultant Ana Sokoloff, with experience in renowned auction houses such as Christie’s and Sotheby’s, was responsible for curating the Uni section. In this space, each gallery is committed to showing works by a single artist.

Among those selected for the event are the Brazilian Lima Galeria, which focuses on Gabriel Archanjo from Piauí, the Spanish Formatocomodo, which presents the work of Ventura Profana from Bahia, and the Mexican OMR, which highlights the Argentine artist Ad Minoliti. In the Main section, which houses most of the participating galleries, there is no requirement that each exhibitor present only one artist, but many follow this model.

Camilla explains that the approach of showing several works by the same artist allows the public to have a deeper understanding of that creator’s practice. “This facilitates the absorption of knowledge, especially for beginners, who can see different works and better understand the creative process. For the specialized public, it is an opportunity to discover unknown sides of the artist,” she observes.

Another notable aspect of this edition is the significant female presence, with around 50% of the works being signed by women and almost half of the participating galleries led by women. "Some of the more traditional galleries, such as Raquel Arnaud and Luisa Strina, have always been marked by a strong female role, and we are noticing a reparation in this sense. As a fair led by women, this is important for us", highlights Camilla.

Galeria Nara Roesler, for example, reserved its stand for Mônica Ventura, an artist whose work is currently on display at the Octagon of the Pinacoteca de São Paulo. Other highlights include Galeria MaPa and its exhibitions dedicated to the expressionist figuration of Ismênia Coaracy (1918-2022) and the colorful geometry of Jandyra Waters (1921-2025). Also worthy of mention is the female quartet showcased by Galeria Luisa Strina, which brings together works by Fernanda Gomes, Anna Maria Maiolino, Cinthia Marcelle and Brisa Noronha.

A third sector of the fair, called Base, will be a space for debates, where conversations will be held about innovative exhibition projects with a pedagogical bias. In this segment, four artists were invited to collaborate with peers of their choice to explore how the influences of previous generations are processed by new ones.

Although ArPa also offers a space for the secondary market, where works by iconic artists are resold, the majority of the selection consists of contemporary names who are active and producing new projects. "This is extremely positive and is in line with our mission to promote the growth of the Brazilian artistic community, contributing to its sustainability and relevance," says Camilla.

Since its first edition, ArPa has been held in conjunction with the 13th edition of the Mercado Arte Design (Made) fair, which is aimed at Brazilian studios and designers of collectible items. Visitors will be able to access both events with the same ticket.

The 4th ArPa Art Fair takes place from Wednesday to Saturday, from 1 pm to 8 pm, and on Sunday, from 11 am to 6 pm, at Mercado Livre Arena Pacaembu, in São Paulo.

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