Madrid Welcomes SAM, a New Fair Dedicated to Modern Masters

A new art fair, SAM (Salón de Arte Moderno), will debut in Madrid from February 26 to March 3, 2019, positioning itself as Europe's only fair specializing in 20th-century avant-garde and modern art. Organized by gallerist Jorge Alcolea, SAM features just ten Spanish galleries offering works by international masters such as Picasso, Dalí, Léger, Giacometti, Chagall, and Miró, as well as Spanish artists like Saura, Valdés, Chillida, and Plensa. The fair takes place at Calle Velázquez 12, a space previously used by Drawing Room in 2019, in the upscale Salamanca shopping district. Open daily until 10 PM, SAM aims to attract visitors from ARCOmadrid, which opens a day later. Prices range from €20,000 to €70,000, focusing on small to medium-sized works on paper with stable market values. Highlights include a Giacometti drawing of Harlequin (1936–40), a Dalí preparatory drawing for Disney's Destino, and Léger's Composition aux bûches (1950). SAM also emphasizes education, seeking to cultivate new collectors. Guest of honor is Francisco Farreras (b. 1927, Barcelona), presenting his latest abstract wooden reliefs. The fair is inspired by BRAFA in Brussels and TEFAF in Maastricht.