Carlos Urroz Steps Down as ARCOmadrid Director, Maribel López to Take Over

Carlos Urroz is leaving his role as director of ARCOmadrid after eight years, with Maribel López set to succeed him starting from the 38th edition, scheduled for February 27 to March 3, 2019. Urroz was the first and only man to lead the fair, founded in 1982 by gallerist Juana de Aizpuru. Ifema, the organizing body, announced the transition as a continuity measure. López, born in Barcelona in 1972, has been with ARCO since 2011, curating the Opening section for young galleries and later overseeing commercial management and curatorial programs. She previously directed galleries and founded curator groups Creatures (Barcelona, 1994-2000) and The Office (Berlin, 2007-2010). The fair is in strong health, with Peru as the invited country for 2019 and the fourth edition of ARCOlisboa scheduled for May 16-19. Urroz cited a desire for new projects and denied that his departure was linked to the 2018 controversy over the censorship of Santiago Sierra's work 'Presos políticos en la España contemporánea' at Helga de Alvear's stand. He is credited with positioning Madrid as a gateway for Latin American art into Europe.