Valor Econômico

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SP-Arte Reaches Its 22nd Edition and Celebrates 10 Years of the Design Sector

180 exhibitors and 3,500 works at the Pavilhão da Bienal between April 8 and 12
By Darlene Dalto — For Valor, from São Paulo
Visitors to the Pavilhão da Bienal de São Paulo between April 8 and 12 will encounter more than 3,500 works of art, paintings, installations and furniture signed by established names and young talents. Brought by 180 exhibitors, these works make up the 22nd edition of SP-Arte, the most important art fair in Latin America.
"It's beautiful to think about these two decades. The fairs that inspired us, they are 30, 50 years old. We have a lot to learn, but during this period there was a mobilization of the sector. We started with 40 galleries and today we have a community that has translated even into associations, which didn't exist before," says Fernanda Feitosa, founder and executive director of the fair, referring to the Associação Brasileira de Arte Contemporânea (Abact) and the Associação das Galerias de Arte do Brasil.
While dedicating herself to law in the financial market, Feitosa frequented the arts circuit alongside Heitor Martins, whom she is married to. They are collectors and patrons of the Pinacoteca, the Museu de Arte Moderna and the Masp. Martins was president of the Fundação Bienal de São Paulo, led the financial recovery of the institution and has held the presidency of Masp since 2014. In London, they participated in the Latin America Acquisitions Committee at Tate Modern. That experience led Feitosa to structure a project and, in 2004, visit the galleries.
"Observing the benefits and impacts that the success of international fairs had on cities and countries made me understand that Brazil could have a great art fair, like Basel or Arco. São Paulo was ready."
Among the galleries attending the fair, Nara Roesler, celebrating 50 years of activity, will bring Tomie Ohtake, Artur Lescher and previously unseen productions by Laura Vinci and Jac Leirner, an artist recently taken on by the gallery. Mendes Wood DM will exhibit new works by Bendt Eyckermans, Leah Ke Yi Zheng, Sanam Khatibi and Precious Okoyomon, a highlight of the last Bienal, alongside Brazilians Rosana Paulino, Laís Amaral, Paulo Nimer Pjota, Luiz Roque, Solange Pessoa, Sonia Gomes and Paula Siebra. Works by Lygia Pape and Daniel Steegmann Mangrané will appear simultaneously at the fair and in exhibitions at both of the gallery's locations.
Celebrating 25 years, Fortes D'Aloia & Gabriel will present more than 40 artists, such as Leda Catunda and Ernesto Neto, who have been with the gallery from the start, Marina Rheingantz, Erika Verzutti, Márcia Falcão, Antonio Tarsis and Wanda Pimentel. Luisa Strina will feature two historic works — a piece from the "Novas Paisagens" series by Anna Maria Maiolino and a Leonilson from 1986 — as well as works by Fernanda Gomes, Laura Lima, Renata Lucas and Alexandre Cunha. Raquel Arnaud will bring Iole de Freitas, Sergio Camargo, Carlos Cruz-Diez and Waltercio Caldas. Pinakotheke will exhibit the triptych "A Queda do Anjo" by Siron Franco. Almeida & Dale will show works by Tarsila do Amaral, Di Cavalcanti and Beatriz Milhazes. Luís Maluf will display creations by Recife-born Bruno Vilela at the fair and in his gallery. And the Minas Gerais-based Mitre will present artists such as Aline Motta and Gisele Camargo.
Among the international galleries, the Uruguayan Sur has participated in SP-Arte from the beginning. Also present will be Salar (Bolivia), Casa Zirio (Colombia), RGR (Mexico), David Peter Francis (United States), Lamb (England), Continua and Orna (Italy), Baró (Spain), and Foco and Kubik (Portugal).
"In the beginning, São Paulo and Brazil were almost a revelation for foreign gallerists. They didn't know that the country had an expressive group of potential collectors and international artists. They had no information about the erudition and sophistication of Brazilians," says Feitosa.
The fair's design sector completes a decade with 64 exhibitors, of which 19 are participating for the first time and 3 are international. Bref, from Paris, will bring Jay Boggo; Ulysses de Santi, from Los Angeles, will exhibit the first furniture pieces by Lucas Simões; and Bossa Furniture, from New York, will take advantage of the fair to inaugurate its first branch in São Paulo. Among the national exhibitors, Etel will present the trajectory of Percival Lafer, who celebrates his 90th birthday. Designers Group will feature new launches by Rodrigo Ohtake and Simone Coste, as well as ceramic furniture by Nicole and Luiza Toldi. Herança Cultural, marking 35 years, will present a limited edition of the "Luminária Lunar," a collaboration between Arthur Lescher and Maneco Quinderé. And Entreposto will launch the "Tramas" collection, 18 jacquard prints created in partnership with Sig Bergamin. As a novelty, Design Now will bring together ten independent studios dedicated to Brazilian furniture.
The public will also be able to attend a series of talks at the Palco SP-Arte on art and design, at the Arena Iguatemi on the art market and collecting, and at the Revo stand with artists and architects. In addition, the fair continues to encourage award-giving. This year there are four prizes: the Arauco SP-Arte Innovation and Sustainability Award, which will offer a trip to Interzum 2027 in Germany; the Artefacto SP-Arte Best Design Award, dedicated to a young designer; the Sauer Art Prize, which will select an artist and award a cash prize; and the Meca SP-Arte Abact 2026, an artistic residency at the headquarters of Instituto Meca (Mac Laren Educational, Cultural and Environmental) in Niterói.