The Sixth Edition of ArtRio Offers Bright Art for Troubled Times

The latest edition of the popular fair kicks off today.

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Yayoi Kusama, My Heart Soaring in the Desert (2016). Image © Yayoi Kusama. Courtesy of David Zwirner, New York; Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo / Singapore; Victoria Miro, London; KUSAMA Enterprise
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Federico Herrero, Sem título 2016. Courtesy Galeria Luisa Strina.
Luisa Lambri, Sem título (Instituto Moreira Salles, #05) (2014). Courtesy Galeria Luisa Strina.
Luisa Lambri, Sem título (Instituto Moreira Salles, #05) (2014). Courtesy Galeria Luisa Strina.
Yayoi Kusama, My Heart Soaring in the Desert (2016). Image © Yayoi Kusama. Courtesy of David Zwirner, New York; Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo / Singapore; Victoria Miro, London; KUSAMA Enterprise
Yayoi Kusama, My Heart Soaring in the Desert (2016). Image © Yayoi Kusama. Courtesy of David Zwirner, New York; Ota Fine Arts, Tokyo / Singapore; Victoria Miro, London; KUSAMA Enterprise
Chris Ofili, Frogs in the Shade–Echoes of Gray (2016). © Chris Ofili. Courtesy David Zwirner, New York/London.
Chris Ofili, Frogs in the Shade–Echoes of Gray (2016). © Chris Ofili. Courtesy David Zwirner, New York/London.
Roberto Matta, Ouvrez c’est nous (1957). Courtesy Gary Nader Art Center.
Roberto Matta, Ouvrez c’est nous (1957). Courtesy Gary Nader Art Center.
Fernando Botero, El Picador (2002). Courtesy Gary Nader Art Center.
Marcelo Silveira, Censor. Photo Robson Lemos, courtesy Galeria Nara Roesler.
Marcelo Silveira, Censor (2013/14). Photo Robson Lemos, courtesy Galeria Nara Roesler.
Brigida Baltar, Autorretrato com pelos. Photo Wilton Montenegro, courtesy Galeria Nara Roesler.
Brigida Baltar, Autorretrato com pelos (2016). Photo Wilton Montenegro, courtesy Galeria Nara Roesler.
Igor Mitoraj, Per Adriano oro (2011). Courtesy Galerie Agnès Monplaisir.
Igor Mitoraj, Per Adriano oro (2011). Photo Ricci Novara, courtesy Galerie Agnès Monplaisir.
Olga de Amaral, Sole A B C (2014). Courtesy Galerie Agnès Monplaisir.
Olga de Amaral, Sole A B C (2014). Photo Diego Amaral, courtesy Galerie Agnès Monplaisir.

Some 52,000 visitors trekked to this city of 6.5 million last year to see the works on offer at ArtRio; there were reportedly “two-hour queues” to get in.

This year appears to be no different, as the sixth edition of the popular fair kicks off today and runs through Sunday.

Never mind that the largest economy in Latin America continues to deal with a two-year recession, as well as the fallout from the impeachment of its president, Dilma Rousseff—the art world keeps moving. Now, 80 dealers from across Brazil and all over the world are converging on the warehouses at Pier Mauá, on the waterfront, to peddle their wares. Brazilian galleries are strongly represented, with locals including A Gentil Carioca, Pinakotheke, and Galeria Inox as well as a number from São Paulo, such as Casa Triângulo, Galeria Fortes Vilaça, and Galeria Luisa Strina.

Other dealers are coming from abroad, such as Gary Nader (Miami and New York), Galerie Agnes Monplaisir (Paris), and, of course, David Zwirner (London and New York)—which has been exhibiting at ArtRio since 2012.

“I think we understand the importance of Latin American art being at an international level, and we wanted to support the Brazilian market, since we support a few Brazilian artists ourselves,” Christina Warner, director at Gary Nader in Miami, tells artnet News. She continues, “Our main focus is to get more exposure on an international stage.”

Greg Lulay, director at David Zwirner gallery in New York, told artnet News that “ArtRio has provided both a platform for the appreciation of gallery artists already well known in the region, as well as an opportunity for David Zwirner to introduce artists whose work has previously never been exhibited in the city.”

The gallery is showing a 1959 painting by Giorgio Morandi, “an artist who’s work has been celebrated in Brazil since he won the grand prize for painting at the 1957 Bienal de São Paulo,” Lulay writes. “We have also recently begun to work with the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, and this year are showing an important work by Josef Albers in our booth.”


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