Each spring, the global art world gathers in the Netherlands for TEFAF Maastricht, widely regarded as one of the most rigorous and prestigious fairs for fine art, antiques, and design. For its 39th edition, the fair returns to the MECC Maastricht from March 14–19, 2026, with invitation-only preview days on March 12 and 13.
Organized by The European Fine Art Foundation, TEFAF Maastricht brings together more than 270 international galleries representing over 20 countries, presenting works that span over seven millennia of art history—from antiquities and Old Master paintings to modern art, jewelry, and contemporary design. What distinguishes the fair is its meticulous vetting process, which sees specialists examine every object on view, reinforcing the fair’s reputation as a destination for museum-quality works and historically significant discoveries.
Courtesy of A. Aardewerk.
Alongside longtime exhibitors who have helped define the fair for decades, this year’s edition welcomes new galleries from Europe, Asia, and the United States, reflecting a growing international dialogue among collectors and institutions. Under the leadership of Managing Director Dominique Savelkoul, the fair continues to expand its scope while preserving its core identity as a place where historical masterpieces and contemporary creativity meet.
Across the fair’s sections—from Old Masters and antiquities to modern art and collectible design—galleries are presenting carefully curated booths that often rival museum exhibitions in both scholarship and presentation. Below, Whitewall highlights nine standout presentations to seek out at TEFAF Maastricht 2026.
Courtesy of Åmells.
Colnaghi — Lavinia Fontana
Historic dealer Colnaghi presents a rare portrait by Lavinia Fontana, the celebrated sixteenth-century Bolognese painter whose career marked a significant breakthrough for women artists in Renaissance Europe. Known for her refined portraits and luminous handling of color, Fontana developed an independent practice that supported her family while establishing her reputation across Italy. The work on view offers a striking example of her ability to capture both elegance and psychological presence.
GRIMM — Caroline Walker
At GRIMM, Scottish painter Caroline Walker continues her exploration of labor, visibility, and the spaces women occupy in contemporary life. Her paintings often focus on moments of quiet activity—hotel workers preparing rooms, gardeners tending landscapes, or staff maintaining leisure environments. Rendered with cinematic composition and meticulous attention to light, the works reveal the unseen rhythms that sustain everyday spaces.
Friedman Benda — Formafantasma
Design gallery Friedman Benda brings a focused presentation dedicated to Formafantasma, the Italian studio known for research-driven design that examines the cultural and ecological narratives embedded in materials. The installation highlights the studio’s distinctive approach to design as both object and inquiry, blending craft traditions with conceptual investigation into how materials shape our built environment.
Nicholas Hall — Paolo De Matteis
Old Master specialist Nicholas Hall features a dynamic painting by Paolo De Matteis, a leading figure of the late Baroque period in Naples. Known for his dramatic compositions and theatrical storytelling, De Matteis created works that merge classical mythology with the visual spectacle characteristic of the era. The painting exemplifies the artist’s command of movement, color, and expressive narrative.
Courtesy of David Lévy & Associés.
TEFAF Focus — Robert Mapplethorpe
Within the TEFAF Focus section, a curated presentation of works by Robert Mapplethorpe revisits the photographer’s enduring influence on contemporary portraiture. Known for his sculptural approach to the human figure and his exploration of form and symmetry, Mapplethorpe’s photographs continue to resonate through their precise compositions and bold examination of identity and beauty.
TEFAF Focus — Sam Francis
Another Focus presentation centers on Sam Francis, whose radiant abstractions helped redefine painting in the postwar era. Characterized by expansive color fields and dynamic splashes of pigment, Francis’s work explores the interplay between light, space, and movement. The presentation underscores the artist’s lasting impact on international abstraction.
Old Master Highlight — Rembrandt
Among the historical highlights at the fair is a rare etching by Rembrandt, created during the early years of the artist’s career in the seventeenth century. Even in these smaller works on paper, Rembrandt’s mastery of expression and psychological depth is unmistakable, offering collectors a glimpse into the experimentation that shaped one of the most influential artists in Western art history.
Impressionist Master — Paul Gauguin
A still life by Paul Gauguin captures the artist’s distinctive approach to color and composition during the late nineteenth century. Balancing decorative structure with expressive brushwork, Gauguin’s paintings reveal the evolving language of modern art as artists began to move beyond strict realism toward more symbolic and expressive modes of representation.
Modern Sculpture — Barbara Hepworth
A sculpture by Barbara Hepworth highlights the modern section of the fair, reflecting the artist’s enduring exploration of form, space, and organic structure. Carved with remarkable precision, Hepworth’s works transform natural materials into lyrical compositions that invite viewers to consider balance, movement, and the relationship between object and surrounding space.
Courtesy of David Gill Gallery.
TEFAF Maastricht 2026
Location: MECC Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands
Dates: March 14–19, 2026
Preview Days: March 12–13
Exhibitors: 270+ international galleries
Scope: Fine art, antiques, jewelry, and design spanning over 7,000 years of art history
Courtesy of The Maas Gallery.
