Uruguay's Hidden Gem: A Seasonal Hub for Latin American Art
In the southern hemisphere's summer, a small fishing village on Uruguay's coast transforms into an exclusive seaside resort, attracting collectors and millionaires from across Latin America, Europe, and the US. Este Arte, a boutique-sized contemporary art fair, is the main draw, boasting a roster of galleries that have participated in prestigious fairs like Art Basel and Frieze.
The fair's creator, Laura Bardier, aimed to bring the Uruguayan art scene to the forefront, which meant creating a market that didn't exist. This year, on its first day, all galleries recovered their booth costs, with some selling their entire stand and having to rehang their works within 24 hours.
Este Arte's success can be attributed to its deliberately small scale, which has positioned it as an early bellwether for Latin America's contemporary art market. The fair offers a focused context that attracts engaged collectors and fosters deeper curatorial and commercial relationships between galleries.
The pavilion where the fair is held, Pavilion Vik, boasts a sober space located near the sea, opposite one of the most exclusive beach clubs on the coast. On the open-air terrace, visitors can enjoy glasses of sparkling wine while watching the sunset over the ocean.
This year's edition featured nine sculptures by Brazilian artist Vanderlei Lopes, created specifically for the fair and in dialogue with the coastal landscape. Prices range from $10,000 to $38,000. The German collector Robert Müller-Grünow has been attending the fair for five years, adding to his collection of young Latin American artists.
The fair is not the only event celebrating art in José Ignacio this year; the Focus International Photography Festival also took place, promoting photography as an artistic discipline and mounting free exhibitions in public and private spaces throughout the town. The festival's director, Gastón Deleau, spoke about his vision for the event, emphasizing its role in fostering conversations around contemporary art.
Another highlight was the exhibition by Mexican artist Ana Segovia at Fundación Cervieri Monsuárez, curated by Magalí Arriola. The show brings together recent paintings inspired by short documentaries produced in the US during the 1940s and 1950s, exploring the "Good Neighbor Policy" and its impact on Latin America.
Este Arte has become a crucial meeting point for Latin American contemporary art, with Ama Amoedo, an Argentine collector and patron, hailing it as a laboratory where the region's art scene tests its visibility and market strength. The fair continues to attract attention from collectors and galleries alike, solidifying José Ignacio's role in the regional cultural calendar.
With Este Arte leading the way, this small Uruguayan town has become an exclusive and luxurious seaside resort, attracting art lovers from across the globe.
In the southern hemisphere's summer, a small fishing village on Uruguay's coast transforms into an exclusive seaside resort, attracting collectors and millionaires from across Latin America, Europe, and the US. Este Arte, a boutique-sized contemporary art fair, is the main draw, boasting a roster of galleries that have participated in prestigious fairs like Art Basel and Frieze.
The fair's creator, Laura Bardier, aimed to bring the Uruguayan art scene to the forefront, which meant creating a market that didn't exist. This year, on its first day, all galleries recovered their booth costs, with some selling their entire stand and having to rehang their works within 24 hours.
Este Arte's success can be attributed to its deliberately small scale, which has positioned it as an early bellwether for Latin America's contemporary art market. The fair offers a focused context that attracts engaged collectors and fosters deeper curatorial and commercial relationships between galleries.
The pavilion where the fair is held, Pavilion Vik, boasts a sober space located near the sea, opposite one of the most exclusive beach clubs on the coast. On the open-air terrace, visitors can enjoy glasses of sparkling wine while watching the sunset over the ocean.
This year's edition featured nine sculptures by Brazilian artist Vanderlei Lopes, created specifically for the fair and in dialogue with the coastal landscape. Prices range from $10,000 to $38,000. The German collector Robert Müller-Grünow has been attending the fair for five years, adding to his collection of young Latin American artists.
The fair is not the only event celebrating art in José Ignacio this year; the Focus International Photography Festival also took place, promoting photography as an artistic discipline and mounting free exhibitions in public and private spaces throughout the town. The festival's director, Gastón Deleau, spoke about his vision for the event, emphasizing its role in fostering conversations around contemporary art.
Another highlight was the exhibition by Mexican artist Ana Segovia at Fundación Cervieri Monsuárez, curated by Magalí Arriola. The show brings together recent paintings inspired by short documentaries produced in the US during the 1940s and 1950s, exploring the "Good Neighbor Policy" and its impact on Latin America.
Este Arte has become a crucial meeting point for Latin American contemporary art, with Ama Amoedo, an Argentine collector and patron, hailing it as a laboratory where the region's art scene tests its visibility and market strength. The fair continues to attract attention from collectors and galleries alike, solidifying José Ignacio's role in the regional cultural calendar.
With Este Arte leading the way, this small Uruguayan town has become an exclusive and luxurious seaside resort, attracting art lovers from across the globe.
I'm loving the vibe of Este Arte, it's like a boutique art party on the beach 
! The curated selection of galleries is exactly what makes it special, it's not too big or too small, just right 
. And can we talk about the pavilion? Pavilion Vik is giving me life 
, who wouldn't want to hang out in a sober space with a sea view and glass of sparkling wine while watching the sunset? 
The focus on Latin American art is what sets it apart from other art fairs, and I'm all about supporting local talent 
.
. The sculptures by Vanderlei Lopes are stunning, and the prices aren't too out of this world either 
And it's awesome that they have events like Focus International Photography Festival to celebrate photography as an artistic discipline.
. José Ignacio has become the ultimate art destination in the region, and I'm here for it 
!
and now latin america's contemporary art scene is getting all the recognition it deserves 
. and have u seen the prices? $10k to $38k for a sculpture 
! i'm low-key dying to attend este arte one day, who else is with me? 
. But what I love most about Este Arte is that it's not just about selling art, it's about creating a community and fostering relationships between galleries and collectors. It's like, a hub for Latin American contemporary art and it's really cool to see how it's bringing all these talented artists together 
. And the fact that it's small scale but still attracts some big names from around the world is just, wow. I mean, who wouldn't want to visit this beach town every summer? 
. I mean, it's amazing that they've created this market from scratch and it's already bringing in big names from all over. The fact that collectors like Robert Müller-Grünow are always on the lookout for new talent speaks volumes about the fair's credibility.
. Vanderlei Lopes' sculptures, for example, were created specifically for the fair and in dialogue with the coastal landscape - that's some next-level stuff! And I love how Ama Amoedo sees this as a "laboratory" where the region's art scene can test its visibility and market strength 
.
. Anyway, I'm hyped to see where Este Arte goes from here 
!
The way they've curated this fair is so clever, offering a focused context that really brings out the talent. And can we talk about the pavilion? Pavilion Vik sounds like the ultimate spot to sip on some bubbly while watching the sunset over the ocean 
. I need to get myself there ASAP and check out all the amazing works on display! 
when you gotta sell your whole booth in 24 hours 
️
the future is now! (or at least, that's what Ama Amoedo says)
of ppl who get to check out Este Arte every year 
. And can we talk about Vanderlei Lopes' sculptures? 
They're like, WHOA! 
. It's like, the epitome of chill 
️
, it's like they're saying 'hey world, we got talent too' 
! I mean, who wouldn't want to attend an exclusive art fair in this stunning coastal village? It's like a hidden gem just waiting to be discovered 