ESTE ARTE
12th EDITION
JANUARY 4-7
2026

PREVIEW Sunday, January 4, 2026
VERNISSAGE Monday, January 5, 2026
OPEN TO ALL Tuesday, January 6, 2026
LAST DAY Wednesday, January 7, 2026

5 – 10 pm

PAVILION VIK
Ruta 10, Km 182,5
José Ignacio, Uruguay
info@estearte.com


PRESS RELEASE

ESTE ARTE is a way of thinking about the world. For twelve years, we have chosen a human scale: fewer exhibitors, more unhurried time for each project, personal relationships, and attentive engagement. We invest in what is ours—supporting artists and galleries from the region, building connections across geographies, and cultivating collectors everywhere. We choose to do less in order to create greater impact, focusing only on what gives meaning to our path. Our purpose is clear: to build a viable art ecosystem—economically, socially, and environmentally—where artists, galleries, curators, and collectors can grow, work, and thrive together. In a world of overproduction and accelerated consumption, the fair continues to champion intimacy, excellence, and sustainability, creating a space where art is thought, shown, and lived in community.

ESTE ARTE, the international contemporary art fair of the Southern Cone, will celebrate its 12th edition from January 4 to 7, 2026, at Pavilion VIK in José Ignacio, Uruguay. This year, ESTE ARTE presents a curatorial selection that weaves together materiality, the body, landscape, and technology as the axes of a shared conversation. The works of Vicente Grondona (Xippas Galleries) combine charcoal, wood, and resin in a poetics of matter; Trinidad Metz Brea (Valerie’s Factory) imagines techno-organic sculptures that breathe and mutate; Ori Carino (Under New Management Gallery, New York) brings together holography and AI systems to explore the physics of empathy; and Emil Lukas (Piero Atchugarry Gallery) proposes a process-based abstraction where light and perception become a transcendental experience.

Ana Rapela (OTTO Galería) draws on ritual and spirituality in Ofrendas, a constellation of wall sculptures inspired by ceremonial practices from India; Lola Goldstein (María Casado Home Gallery) presents a ceramic garden where life persists amid chaos; Heloisa Crocco (Galeria Eduardo Fernandes) transforms industrial remnants into sensitive surfaces that pulse like living organisms.

Landscape takes center stage with Pedro Tyler (Galería del Paseo), who examines the limits of space-time through sculptures built from distorted measuring rulers; Leo Battistelli (Del Infinito) unveils Spectrum, a chromatic universe suspended between the visible and the invisible; Francisca Maya (Black Gallery) sets Uruguayan geometry in motion through circles and transparencies that turn movement into visual experience; and Germán Tagle (Aninat Galería) reimagines landscape as cultural construction, where memory and fiction intermingle. Vanderlei Lopes (Almeida & Dale) presents a new series in aluminum and silver—works that appear liquid, mirrored, oxidized, or in ruins—conceived especially for José Ignacio, where art encounters myth, history, and the coastal landscape. Finally, Diego Bianchi (Galerie Jocelyn Wolff, Paris) explores the body through concrete, torsion, and spatial tension, extending his practice outdoors, where his sculptures can inhabit both the sand and the interior, blurring the boundaries between nature and architecture.

“With ESTE ARTE 2026 we want to expand the limits of the fairgrounds: for works to dialogue with the gardens, the beach, and the coastal light, and for every space to become territory. This edition embodies our desire for art not only to be displayed, but to occur, to shift, and to transform with the visitors. Here, less is not little—it is possibility.” — Laura Bardier, Founder and Director of ESTE ARTE

NEW PROGRAM: ESTE OFFSITE

The new feature of this edition is ESTE OFFsite, a program that expands ESTE ARTE beyond the fairgrounds, activating spaces across José Ignacio, Punta del Este, and Garzón, and extending its presence throughout the year. OFFsite presents exhibitions, interventions, and special projects by participating galleries outside the traditional booth format, generating new connections between art, architecture, landscape, and community. From terraces and gardens to beaches and urban spaces, OFFSITE transforms the fair into an experience extended across time and territory—a living map of contemporary art in the southern hemisphere. ESTE ARTE thus proposes a fair experienced as expanded territory: a space of resonances between art and nature, body and cosmos, experience and thought. Each edition reaffirms that excellence is not a matter of scale, but of the quality of encounter—this singular alchemy that takes place when art, dialogue, and hospitality converge on the Uruguayan coast.

ESTE CHARLAS

The conversation program reinforces the fair’s critical and reflective spirit, strengthening its role as a platform for thought and dialogue. This year, Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, director of Haus der Kulturen der Welt (Berlin) and curator of the recently inaugurated São Paulo Biennial, will participate in a special discussion organized with Fundación Ama Amoedo, focusing on networks of collaboration, symbolic repair, and the construction of collective futures in contemporary art. Likewise, Magalí Arriola, former director of the Museo Tamayo (Mexico City), will present a talk in collaboration with Fundación Cervieri Monsuárez, addressing the challenges and strategies of Latin American institutions in today’s global context. These encounters underscore ESTE ARTE’s commitment to uniting thought, practice, and community, fostering honest exchange among cultural actors from the South and from around the world.


 

FAIR | CURATORIAL VISION

The upcoming edition of ESTE ARTE is committed to a focused and equitable exhibition model. Each gallery will present a solo show by one artist, whether a single piece, an installation, or a coherent selection, highlighting the artist’s unique vision and strengthening the gallery’s narrative. All works are unseen, exhibited for the first time. Living artists will present new creations, while works by historical figures must demonstrate lasting cultural significance. Each participant receives the same space, ensuring equal visibility and conditions. In addition to their physical presentation, galleries will provide a digital format for in-depth engagement. New this year, off-site presentations expand the fair beyond its walls, featuring performances, outdoor sculptures, and other experimental formats. All proposals are reviewed by a Selection Committee of leading collectors and patrons.


FAIR | SELECTION COMMITTEE

The exhibitors' proposals have been evaluated by a selection committee composed of six distinguished philanthropists and renowned collectors, both nationally and internationally.
The galleries have been selected based on proposals that are iconic and provocative, demonstrating both artistic quality and conceptual coherence. The influence and caliber of the artist or artwork will be evaluated based on its relevance in understanding the past, present, and future of artistic creation.


 

FAIR | EXHIBITORS

ESTE ARTE is a way of thinking the world. For 12 years, we have chosen the human scale: fewer exhibitors, unhurried time for each project, personal relationships, and tailored attention. We invest in our own, supporting artists and galleries in the region, and we seed across geographies, cultivating collectors everywhere. We choose to do less for greater impact, focusing only on what gives meaning to our path. Our aim is clear: to build a viable art ecosystem, economically, socially, and environmentally, where artists, galleries, curators, and collectors grow happy together.
We are thrilled to announce the exhibitors and artists presenting all-new artworks at ESTE ARTE from January 4 to January 7, 2026:


 

FAIR | ESTE OFFSITE

This year, in addition to the solo presentation in the booth, we are introducing the possibility to showcase a second artist outside the traditional exhibition space. This additional work may be a performance, outdoor sculpture, sound piece, or video, formats that, by their nature, are not ideally suited to the fairgrounds.


 

CULTURAL SUMMIT | ESTE CHARLAS

Since its first edition, ESTE ARTE has played a key role in shaping a dynamic and vibrant cultural ecosystem, fostering meaningful dialogue and a deeper understanding of contemporary artistic practices. The ESTE ARTE Cultural Summit brings together leading curators, artists, and cultural thinkers, creating a platform for critical debate and reflection at the forefront of contemporary art. This year, the invited curators Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung (Haus der Kulturen der Welt) and Magalí Arriola (independent curator), who are visiting Uruguay for the first time on the occasion of ESTE ARTE, will offer an exceptional lecture in which they will share their cultural strategies and perspectives on artistic creation. In addition, we will host a panel conversation with the representatives of the national pavilions for the 61st Venice Biennale: Patricia Bentancur, Curator of the Uruguay Pavilion; Dermis Leon, Co-Curator of the Chile Pavilion; and Andrea Alba González, Commissioner of the Argentina Pavilion.


 

CULTURAL SUMMIT | ESTE FOCUS

Each participating artist will present their work and creative process in person, transforming each encounter into an intimate conversation and a unique window into contemporary practice. These artist talks, a rare privilege in the context of an art fair, allow visitors to experience the works through the voices of their creators, deepening connections.


 

CULTURAL SUMMIT | ESTE ARTISTA

ESTE ARTE, thanks to Laura Bardier, Margarita Baptista, and Nadia Cheirasco, presents ESTE ARTISTA, a free professional development program connecting Uruguayan artists with internationally recognized curators. Through one-on-one portfolio reviews, artists engage in direct dialogue, strengthen their practice, expand networks, and enhance their visibility within the international art community.

The artists will have the opportunity to review the portfolios of Uruguayan artists, whether represented by galleries or not. This initiative drives the development of culture and visual arts, creating a sustainable professional environment and enriching the life of our society.


 

CULTURAL SUMMIT | ESTE PREMIOS

ESTE X DON BAEZ ACQUISITION AWARDS

ESTE ARTE and Don Baez present the second ESTE Don Baez Acquisition Award for the purchase of an artwork valued at up to USD 10,000 exhibited at ESTE ARTE. This prize is fully funded by Claudia and Diana Weiss, renowned businesswomen, collectors, and art patrons. In this inaugural edition, the jury will be composed of Claudia Weiss, president of Don Baez; Diana Weiss, patron of the organization, lawyer, and art collector; and Laura Bardier, art historian, independent curator, and director of ESTE ARTE. The jury will select a single work—chosen from all participating galleries and artists of the 10th edition of ESTE ARTE—which will enter the Don Baez Collection.

ESTE X LAETITIA AWARDS

ESTE ARTE presents the third edition of the ESTE Laetitia Philanthropy Award by ESTE ARTE, which honors individuals and organizations dedicated to the creation and dissemination of art in Uruguay. This award acknowledges the invaluable support provided to the promotion and preservation of the country’s cultural heritage. It is a recognition of the significant role of patronage and commitment to the development of the visual arts within the local scene. The prize is named in honor of Laetitia d’Aremberg, one of Uruguay’s foremost cultural patrons. The ESTE Laetitia Prize jury includes: Laura Bardier (ESTE ARTE), Martín Castillo (Galería SUR), Silvia Arrozés (Galería del Paseo), Renos Xippas (Xippas).


 

ESTE ARTE X Independent Curators International

ESTE ARTE, in collaboration with Independent Curators International (ICI), presents the Curatorial Intensive Montevideo 2026, taking place March 14–21, 2026 in Montevideo, Uruguay. This weeklong professional development program brings together curators from around the world for seminars, workshops, and peer-led exchanges focused on strengthening curatorial practice in Latin America.
Applications are open until November 19, 2025.
Further info HERE.


ABOUT ESTE ARTE
Under the direction of Laura Bardier, it has established itself over the past decade as the most significant meeting point for contemporary art in the region, bringing together leading artists, galleries, collectors, curators, and institutions from across Latin America and beyond. More than an art fair, it is a curated cultural platform that fosters meaningful encounters between art, ideas, and community. Since its foundation, we have promoted a model rooted in social, economic, and environmental sustainability, while reinforcing Uruguay’s position as a cultural hub. Each edition reaffirms its commitment to dialogue, collaboration, and long-term vision, aligning art with values of care, reflection, and integrity.

ABOUT LAURA BARDIER
Director and founder of the ESTE ARTE art fair, Laura also leads the James Howell Foundation in New York. Previously, Bardier held key positions in the Cultural Department of the Municipality of Naples (Italy) and in prominent private collections in the United States. She has curated exhibitions in Uruguay, Italy, and the United States; her writings on contemporary art have been published in Domus Magazine, Arte al Día, Review, and Infonegocios. Bardier was a member of the National Visual Arts Committee of Uruguay and is a board member of ArtTable, ICI - Independent Curators International, and Creative Capital.

For twelve years, ESTE ARTE has cultivated its own rhythm: slower, intentional, and deeply grounded. Our aim has always been to create a space where art and people can truly meet, with time, attention, and depth.”— Laura Bardier, Director, ESTE ARTE


ESTE ARTE
is a collaborative effort

Once again, ESTE ARTE offers a rich cultural program in collaboration with various national and international institutions, reflecting and promoting the importance of collaboration.