Malba Acquires the Daros Latinamerica Collection

Malba Acquires the Daros Latinamerica Collection and Announces Expansion for its 25th Anniversary

Buenos Aires, Argentina — With its 25th anniversary in September 2026 in mind, the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires (Malba) announced the acquisition of the Daros Latinamerica Collection by its founder, Eduardo F. Costantini. The purchase, described as historic, comprises 1,233 works by 117 artists from the region, produced primarily between the 1950s and 2010. With this addition, Malba and Costantini's collection of modern and contemporary Latin American art will nearly double in size, reaching approximately 3,000 pieces, placing it among the most important and extensive in the world.

In the words of founder Eduardo F. Costantini: “The addition of the Daros Latinamerica Collection is an immense joy and a historic step in Malba’s sustained growth.” Adding major contemporary pieces to the existing masterpieces in the collection and being able to project the museum's leap in scale as it approaches its 25th anniversary is a dream come true.” The acquired collection was established in 2000 by Ruth Schmidheiny and Swiss businessman Stephan Schmidheiny, and its return to the region from its base in Zurich is considered a highly significant event.

Rodrigo Moura, Artistic Director of Malba, emphasized the impact of the acquisition: “This acquisition repositions Malba as the leading collection of contemporary Latin American art open to the public on the continent, a position the museum already held in the field of modern art.” The new collection incorporates iconic works by key artists who were not previously represented, such as Hélio Oiticica, Víctor Grippo, Ana Mendieta, Cildo Meireles, and Belkis Ayón, in addition to significantly expanding the photography, video, and installation holdings.

The acquisition is part of a strategic expansion that includes the physical expansion of the museum. The project, which will be developed beneath the adjacent Plaza República del Perú, will double Malba's current surface area, bringing it to approximately 8,000 square meters. This expansion will allow for more exhibition space for the growing permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, and will include the launch of a new comprehensive program of design and textile art.

The Daros Latinamerica Collection not only consolidates key periods such as geometric abstraction and conceptual art at Malba, but also expands its geographic reach. It deepens the representation of countries such as Colombia and Cuba, and extends to nations such as Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic. The museum thus assumes the responsibility of preserving and publicly reactivating this collection, reinforcing its mission of disseminating Latin American art.

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