art basel miami beach bridget finn interview 2579315

Bridget Finn, who became director of Art Basel Miami Beach in July 2023, has organized the 22nd edition of the fair from start to finish for the first time. In an interview days before the VIP opening at the Miami Beach Convention Center, she discussed welcoming 286 galleries, the importance of hospitality, and the fair's role in Miami's art scene. She highlighted 34 new galleries joining this year, notable works by Augusto Machado and Roberto Huarcaya, and the fair's efforts to engage diverse audiences including VIPs, institutions, and the general public.

Pedro Friedeberg, key figure in Mexican art renowned for hand-shaped chair, has died at age 90

Pedro Friedeberg, the Mexico-based artist and designer famed for his iconic Mano Silla (Hand Chair) created in 1962, has died at age 90. A key figure in 20th-century Mexican art, his singular work blended intricate, fantastical architecture with ornament and irony, creating a unique visual universe that defied easy categorization within movements like Surrealism or geometric abstraction.

Beatriz González, indefatigable force in Colombian art, has died, aged 93

Beatriz González, the influential Colombian artist, writer, curator, educator, and intellectual known as 'la maestra,' died in Bogotá on January 9 at age 93. Born in 1932 in Bucaramanga, she studied architecture and fine arts before forging a distinctive path in Colombian art, rejecting abstraction and the style of her contemporary Fernando Botero. Her work, including the series 'Suicidas del Sisga' (1965) and 'La Encajera,' reinterpreted Western artworks and local press photographs with flat forms and vibrant colors, often incorporating kitsch and subaltern aesthetics. She was a key figure in the Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá (Mambo), envisioned a school for museum guides, served as chief curator of the Museo Nacional de Colombia, and mentored generations of museum professionals.

The Groups and Other Artistic Revolts: Networks and Collectivities in Mexico, 1976-1985

LOS GRUPOS Y OTRAS REVUELTAS ARTÍSTICAS. REDES Y COLECTIVIDADES EN MÉXICO, 1976-1985

The Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (MUAC) in Mexico City has launched a major exhibition titled "Los grupos y otras revueltas artísticas," which re-examines the surge of artist collectives in Mexico between 1976 and 1985. Drawing from the Arkheia Documentation Center, the show moves beyond a simple chronological survey to reconstruct emblematic works and document the radical shifts in artistic language that occurred during this era. It highlights key historical moments, such as the 1977 Paris Biennial and the formation of the Mexican Front of Cultural Workers' Groups, while exploring how these collectives navigated urban spaces and institutional boundaries.

Mexico City’s Muac damaged during anti-gentrification protest

On 20 July, Mexico City’s second anti-gentrification protest caused damage to the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (Muac) and the nearby Julio Torri bookstore, including broken glass, graffiti, and burnt books. The protest, part of a growing movement demanding housing access and rent regulation, was marked by anti-foreign sentiment and vandalism likely carried out by infiltrated black bloc groups. Protesters diverted to the University Cultural Centre, where Muac is located, shattering its glass façade and spray-painting slogans such as “Muac welcomes gringos” and “Gringo go home.” The museum was closed for summer break at the time.

MEXICAN CURATOR ANNOUNCED FOR LIVERPOOL BIENNIAL 2027

The Liverpool Biennial has appointed Lucía Sanromán and Aimee Harrison as Co-curators for its 2027 edition. Sanromán, Chief Curator at Mexico City's MUAC, brings an international perspective on socially engaged art, while Harrison, a long-time Biennial staffer, provides deep local knowledge and experience in community-focused projects. The festival will run from June 5 to September 12, 2027, utilizing historic buildings, galleries, and unexpected spaces across the city.