Frieze New York 2025 features a surge of 14 Latin American galleries from Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil, reversing a trend of withdrawal seen during the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second presidency. Non-profit support from organizations like Latitude, which helped all eight Brazilian exhibitors, and a concerted effort by Frieze’s Americas team have enabled this increased presence, despite ongoing challenges such as high shipping costs, tariffs, and visa denials—exemplified by Mexican artist Dr Lakra being unable to attend his own show at Kurimanzutto.
This resurgence matters because it signals the resilience and growth of Latin American galleries even as the US market faces political headwinds, including a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports and broader tensions between Brazil and the Trump administration. The fair serves as a critical platform for these galleries to access the “hegemonic centre of the art world,” and their participation underscores the importance of institutional support in navigating geopolitical and economic barriers. The parallel between Dr Lakra’s visa denial and the Cold War-era exclusion of Miguel Covarrubias highlights how art-world access remains entangled with politics.