Miart 2021: Gallerists Report Strong Sales and High Attendance at 25th Edition
The 25th Miart, Milan's renowned international fair for modern and contemporary art, launched to impressive attendance and sales, surpassing the expectations of gallerists following two years of pandemic-related closures. Galleria Continua experienced significant visitor numbers, while Galleria Fumagalli successfully sold a neon piece by Maurizio Nannucci during the opening. Swiss gallery Cortesi made sales to Italian buyers. Galleria UNA received the Rotary Prize for Emerging Contemporary Art for Irene Fenara’s "Three Thousand Tigers," which will be showcased at Museo del Novecento. Some gallerists, including Primo Marella Gallery, noted a trend of cautious buying. New exhibitors like Edition e Galerie Hoffman and Mexico's Unno Gallery enjoyed a favorable response. However, many remarked on the absence of international tourists. Galleria Continua looks to Art Basel as the next market benchmark.
Key facts
- Miart's 25th edition opened in Milan in September 2021 after two years of pandemic closure.
- Galleria Continua reported very high attendance from industry professionals and regular followers.
- Irene Fenara's 'Three Thousand Tigers' won the Rotary Prize for Emerging Contemporary Art and will be exhibited at Museo del Novecento.
- Galleria Fumagalli sold a Maurizio Nannucci neon at opening; Thorsten Brinkmann's works also attracted attention.
- Cortesi gallery sold to Italian collectors at opening.
- Robilant + Voena noted strong interest in historicized non-canvas works.
- MarcoRossi gallery reported good economic results and interest in Marco Tirelli's previously unexhibited 1980s works.
- Some gallerists observed buyer hesitation and slower purchasing decisions compared to pre-Covid editions.
- Giovanni Bonelli criticized the clustering of Milan events (Salone del Mobile, Art Week, Fashion Week) in September.
- First-time exhibitors included Edition e Galerie Hoffman (Friedberg) and Unno Gallery (Mexico).
- Paci Contemporary attracted curiosity with Leslie Krims' photography.
- Francesco Pantaleone gallery sold works by Letizia Battaglia, Loredana Longo, and Stefano Arienti.
- Several gallerists noted a lack of international tourists.
- Galleria Continua expressed anticipation for Art Basel as the next market indicator.
Entities
Artists
- Irene Fenara
- Maurizio Nannucci
- Thorsten Brinkmann
- Marco Tirelli
- Marina Abramovic
- Tobias Zielony
- Joseph Kosuth
- Luigi Ontani
- Goncalo Mabunda
- Letizia Battaglia
- Loredana Longo
- Stefano Arienti
- Leslie Krims
- Calderara
Institutions
- Galleria Continua
- Galleria UNA
- Museo del Novecento
- Robilant + Voena
- MarcoRossi
- Galleria Fumagalli
- Cortesi Gallery
- Lia Rumma
- Primo Marella Gallery
- Giovanni Bonelli
- Francesco Pantaleone
- Paci Contemporary
- Edition e Galerie Hoffman
- Unno Gallery
- Artribune
- Miart
- Rotary Prize for Emerging Contemporary Art
- Salone del Mobile
- Milan Art Week
- Milan Fashion Week
- Art Basel
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Piacenza
- London
- United Kingdom
- Switzerland
- Naples
- Palermo
- Friedberg
- Germany
- Mexico
- Saint Moritz
- Europe