Italian Galleries Report Solid Sales at ARCOmadrid 2026 Despite Geopolitical Tensions

The 45th edition of ARCOmadrid closed on March 8, 2026, at IFEMA in Madrid, showing resilience despite geopolitical tensions and high VAT rates for Spanish galleries. Italian galleries reported cautious but solid sales, with a focus on classical modern and avant-garde works. Studio Trisorio of Naples, participating for 27 years, sold works by Francesco Arena, Fabrizio Corneli, and others, noting strong collector relationships from Spain, South America, and Portugal. Francesca Minini highlighted a new generation of South American collectors based in Spain, with sales including works by Flavio Favelli, Roberto de Pinto, Jacopo Benassi, and Armando Andrade Tudela, plus advanced negotiations for a Peter Halley painting. Galleria P420 of Bologna sold works by June Crespo, Adelaide Cioni, and Alessandra Spranzi to important collections, emphasizing that ARCO generates sales throughout the week, not just during preview. Monitor gallery introduced Portuguese fiber art pioneer Helena Lapas alongside Maja Escher, with strong institutional interest. Gilda Lavia gallery, in its fourth participation, reported new contacts and sales, though noted reduced attendance from some countries due to geopolitics. The fair saw active museum acquisitions, including the Museo Reina Sofia's recent acquisition of an Elisa Montessori work. Overall, ARCOmadrid 2026 confirmed its role as a key platform for the Iberian and Latin American art market, with Italian galleries playing a significant role.