Arco Lisboa Opens in Lisbon with 45 Galleries, Including Two from Italy

Arco Lisboa, the first edition of the Madrid-based contemporary art fair outside Spain, has opened in Lisbon. Organized by Ifema with artistic direction by Carlos Urroz, the fair is held at the Cordoaria Nacional, a former rope factory in the Belem district on the Tagus River. The venue's long, narrow space with windows on both sides hosts 45 galleries, mostly Portuguese and Spanish, including Madrid's Juana de Aizpuru. International participants include Leon Tovar Gallery (New York), Luisa Strina, Luciana Brito, and Jaqueline Martins (São Paulo), and Christopher Grimes (Santa Monica, California). Two Italian galleries are present: Umberto di Marino (Naples) with a solo show of Luca Francesconi, and Giorgio Persano (Turin) with a stand focused on Italian art (Mario Merz, Nunzio, Pistoletto, Gilberto Zorio). The fair features medium and small-scale works, predominantly painting and photography, with few installations. Notable Portuguese artists include Pedro Cabrita Reis, Adriana Molder, Joao Maria Gusmao & Pedro Paiva, Juana Vasconcelos, and Vasco Araujo. Invited artists showcase new proposals: Luciana Porter, Ana Vidigal, Felipe Franco, and Munteau & Rosemblum. Established market artists like Julian Opie, Thomas Schutte, Heimo Zobernig, and Pedro Calapez are also present. Partner Illy Caffè returns. The fair extends into Lisbon's cultural spaces and museums, with many events including a recommended visit to the Berardo Collection Museum. The fair runs until May 29, 2016.