On February 7 in Mexico City, ZsONAMACO—the preeminent art fair of Latin America—celebrates its 20th anniversary, on view through February 11 within Centro Citibanamex. This year, more than 200 galleries representing 25 countries will unveil spirited exhibitions at the globally renowned event.
Founded by Zélika García, the creative platform is made up of four diverse categories: ZsONAMACO MÉXICO ARTE CONTEMPORÁNEO®, ZsONAMACO FOTO®, ZsONAMACO DISEÑO®, and ZsONAMACO SALÓN DEL ANTICUARIO®. Uplifting Mexico City as a vibrant focal point in the international art landscape, the fair unites exemplary modern and contemporary art with dazzling works of photography, design, and antiques.
Notable Curators Bring New Programs and Meaningful Conversations to ZsONAMACO
ZsONAMACO’s latest edition brings together a comprehensive lineup of curators: Cecilia León de la Barra, Jorge Diego Etienne, Joel Escalona, Luis Graham Castillo, Luiza Teixeira de Freitas, Esteban King, Direlia Lazo, Alfonso Miranda, and Bernardo Mosqueira. Dynamic, new programs are featured this year, including FORMA, championing the fair’s long-standing galleries with site-specific and historical creations, as well as meaningful talks and activities led by esteemed cultural figureheads in the city’s beloved museums and galleries.
Lucia Tallova, “From the series Mountain,” 2022, Collage, old book pages, 55 x 40 cm.; courtesy of the artist and Zilberman, Turkey.
The Main Section Shines with 69 International Galleries
With Lazo as the fair’s Artistic Director, The Main Section of the much-anticipated presentation shines light on 69 international galleries, and boasts a notable selection committee with Guilherme Simões de Assis (Simões de Assis, São Paulo/Curitiba), Teófilo Cohen (PROYECTOS MONCLOVA, Mexico City), Ben Loveless (Galerie Nordenhake, Berlin/Stockholm/Mexico City), Karen Huber (Galería Karen Huber, Mexico City), and Lauren Kelly (Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles). Zilberman of Turkey, brings the abstract wonders of artists Omar Barquet and Lucia Tallova. Barquet’s 6th Waterfall (2023) is a hypnotic dream of lacquered oil paint on wood, while Tallova’s From the series Mountain (2022) collages onyx ribbon over antique book pages for a poignant study on eternal desire.
ZsONAMACO ARTE MODERNO and ZsONAMACO EJES illuminate and Inspire
Curated by King, ZsONAMACO ARTE MODERNO includes 18 galleries including Art of the World Gallery (United States), MARK HACHEM (France), Pablo Goebel Fine Arts (Mexico), MAYORAL (Spain), and Duque Arango (Colombia). Cometa of Colombia places the darkly whimsical oil paintings of Wilfredo Lam with prismatic, bountiful investigations by Fernando Botero.
Curated by Mosqueira, ZsONAMACO EJES inspires with 35 galleries such as Carmo Johnson Projects (Brazil), CUT ART Gallery (Latvia), Plataforma ArtBase México-Montréal (Canada), and Tramo Galería (Argentina). Gathering of United Kingdom proposes the kaleidoscopic universe of Wynnie Mynerva with The Original Riot (2023), and HGZ (Galeria Hector Gutierrez Zamora) of Mexico draws visitors in with a beguiling work of oil and glitter on canvas by Juan Carlos Loyo titled Cuerpo Naranja (2021).
Wynnie Mynerva, “The Original Riot,” 2023, oil on canvas, 25 x 3.5m.; courtesy of the artist and Gathering, United Kingdom.
23 Exhibitors in ZsONAMACO SUR with a Myriad of Visionary Artists
Curated by Freitas, 23 exhibitors comprise ZsONAMACO SUR, with galleries like YOD Gallery (Japan), Servando (Cuba), NOW: GALLERY (Peru) and MEMORIA (Spain) highlighting a myriad of visionary artists. Letícia Lopes, represented by VERVE (Brazil), presents Entre (As fulgurações da Telepatia) (2023), a soulful work of oil on linen embracing the radiant connection between animals and humans. Delfina Braun of Praxis (United States) enthralls with Fungi XII – Series Living Labyrinths (2021), a romantic journey into mother nature’s precious motifs meticulously explored in charcoal on paper.
ZsONAMACO DISEÑO, Emergente, and ZONAMACO FOTO Offer Dreamlike Works
Barra returns as Artistic Director of ZsONAMACO DISEÑO, with 21 compelling exhibitors. mool of Mexico illuminates the sculptural 2022 Sofá ROBUR, and FELINA of Mexico brings the polished brass jewels of Aretes Penacho.
Curated by Barra, Etienne, and Escalona, the Emergente category focuses on over 30 projects by cutting-edge galleries like Fabienne Guilbert Burgoa (Marsella), Lara Villa (Guadalajara), Ruth Maria Robledo Alanis (London), and Oficina Normal (Mexico City).
Castillo spearheads the ZsONAMACO FOTO fair with18 presentations including the dreamlike works of Jacob Gils from IN THE GALLERY (Denmark), and the surreal studies of Rafael Lozano-Hemmer from bitforms gallery (United States).
mool, Sofá ROBUR, 2022; courtesy of the designer and mool, Mexico.
ZsONAMACO SALÓN DEL ANTICUARIO Enthralls Beside the Fair’s Conversations and Artsy Nights Celebration
Curated by Miranda, ZsONAMACO SALÓN DEL ANTICUARIO is a symphony of 16 storied galleries. Veronica Fine Arts (Mexico) offers José De Alcibar’s rich oil painting La Crucifixión (1740) and Westminster (Mexico) charms with decadent emerald and turquoise vintage jewelry.
Riveting conversations unfold throughout the run of the fair, from the the book presentation Robert Janitz at Anahuacalli, journeying through the German artist’s spiritual dialogue with The Anahuacalli Museum in Mexico City, to 20 years of ZsONAMACO with Juan Canela, Chief Curator of MAC Panamá, and additional luminaires of the global art scene.
Artsy Nights, the fair’s energetic party, toasts to the momentous anniversary on February 10 with musical artist Channel Tres, and performances by Josefo, Yulia Niko, Andre VII, and Rodrigo Gallardo setting Mexico City aglow.
Wifredo Lam, “UNTITLED (COMPOSITION),” 1972, oil on linen, 60 x 50 cm.; courtesy of the artist and Cometa, Colombia.
Courtesy of ZONAMACO.
