OTTO Galería

Buenos Aires| Argentina
Director | Eugenio Ottolenghi

OTTO Galería was founded in 2016 by Eugenio Ottolenghi with the purpose of supporting and giving visibility to the practices of Latin American artists who work with traditional media such as painting, sculpture, collage, and photography from a contemporary perspective. Based in Buenos Aires with an international outlook, the gallery develops a curatorial program that balances emerging, mid-career, and established trajectories, highlighting the uniqueness of each artist within the current landscape. Committed to strengthening Latin American art, OTTO is an active space for exhibition, exchange, and circulation, where artworks find a meaningful context for both local and global projection.

www.ottogaleria.com

CURATORIAL VISION

For Este Arte 2027, OTTO Galería presents a selection of oils on canvas and watercolors on paper that distill this universe: the impossible architecture, the alphabet without a language, the landscape that is, ultimately, an enigma that sets our questions in motion. The space housing this selection is not neutral. Curator Pablo De Monte wrote of Maza's work that "the horizon line does not merely divide sky and earth: it organizes, orders, and proposes a way of seeing." That phrase illuminated a decision: the walls of the booth are painted in two bands, the lower one sand-colored, and the upper one a blue evoking the sky of his landscapes. The line dividing them is, too, a horizon line. The booth thus becomes an extension of Fernando Maza's pictorial universe: one more landscape, built for the works to inhabit. The booth incorporates a piece of furniture designed specifically for the occasion: MEZA is a modular, interlocking system. Three volumes that assemble into a single unit, or can be arranged independently throughout the space to serve as support surfaces. Inspired by the pictorial volumes of Fernando Maza, this sculptural ceramic table, with its open-ended composition, allows the user to create a variety of configurations.

BIO

Fernando Maza (b. 1936, Buenos Aires; d. 2017, France) was born in Buenos Aires in 1936, into a family of architects —a profession he always wished to practice and one that would shape his work. Between 1949 and 1953 he trained in the studio of Raúl Podestá, and in 1959 he became the youngest founding member of the Informalist Movement, alongside Alberto Greco, Kenneth Kemble and Clorindo Testa, among others. In 1960 he traveled to New York —where he lived for thirteen years— on a Pan American Union scholarship to study printmaking at the Pratt Graphic Art Center. There, sharing a studio with César Paternosto and Luis Wells, he began incorporating the letters, numbers and shaped formats that would define his work. In 1971 he received the Guggenheim Fellowship. After a period in London (1973-1976), he settled in France, first in Paris and then in Nogent-sur-Marne, where he worked until his death in 2017, spending summers in Cala Deià, Mallorca. His work earned international recognition: an honorable mention at the VIII São Paulo Biennial (1965), participation in the Di Tella Prize, and inclusion in the Argentine delegation to the XXXVI Venice Biennale (1972). He received the First Prize of the National Painting Salon (1984), the Palanza Prize (1985) and the Grand Prize of Honor of the National Salon (1987). His work is held in the collections of the MET in New York, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes and the Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires.

Booth walkthrough with the artist
Ana Rapela

January 5, 2026
5:30 PM
Pavilion VIK

CURATORIAL VISION

For ESTE ARTE 2026, 12th edition, OTTO Galería presents Ana Rapela’s project “Ofrendas”, conceived especially for the public of Uruguay. The series features wall sculptures that explore spirituality and ritual, inspired by symbolic traditions from India. Created in folded aluminum, the works evoke ceremonial arrangements where gestures of offering, repetition, and rhythm become visual language. Each sculpture functions as part of a greater cadence, balancing chaos and order in everyday rituals. By translating devotional acts into abstract form, “Ofrendas” proposes a collective identity shaped through color, form, and intention. The installation invites viewers to experience ritual as a sensitive cartography of the human soul—simultaneously personal and communal, ephemeral and permanent.

BIO

Ana Rapela (Argentine, b. 1974) studied Industrial Design at the Universidad de Buenos Aires (FADU). She trained in ceramics, photography, printmaking, and serigraphy, cultivating a multidisciplinary approach. Initially developing furniture in the metal industry, Rapela began exploring the expressive and spatial possibilities of sheet metal combined with other materials. Her artistic practice navigates morphology, functionality, and communication, aiming to balance aesthetics with social meaning. She lives and works in Buenos Aires.

CURATORIAL VISION

For ESTE ARTE 2026, 12th edition, OTTO Galería presents Daniel Stroomer’s project “BENCHING”. A place to sit, disconnect, and watch the world go by. Inspired by graffiti “benching” — the act of waiting at a station to watch trains covered in graffiti go past. Nowadays, “benching” also happens online, keeping up with what’s happening in the global scene. I wanted to create a space where you can enjoy your surroundings, go online, or chat with a friend — with different areas designed for whatever you need: to be alone, as a couple, or in a group.

BIO

Daniel Stroomer (Dutch, b. 1982), known artistically as Nase Pop, began painting graffiti in Almere in the 1990s before moving to Buenos Aires in 2008. His transition from graffiti to abstract painting and sculpture reflects a deep engagement with digital aesthetics, material experimentation, and urban environments. His practice spans murals, sculptures, and installations that explore how visual disruption reshapes perception in both cities and galleries. He lives and works in Argentina.

ESTE FOCUS

Booth walkthrough with artist Daniel Stroomer a.k.a. nasepop
In conversation with Eugenio Ottolenghi, Director, OTTO Galería

Monday, January 6, 2025
6:10 – 6:50 PM
Pavilion VIK

CURATORIAL

Thinking about a solo show challenged and provoked us. We couldn't limit ourselves to just filling the walls; we had to take over the space, respect its surroundings, make it our own, and, at the same time, make it public. With this premise, Daniel Stroomer emerged as the undeniable choice. Barcodes is an exhibition that explores the intricate tapestry of identity, origin, and migration through the lens of abstract art and electric colors. This body of work represents a personal journey, reflecting my immigration from the structured landscapes of the Netherlands to the vibrant and diverse culture of Argentina. The pieces combine elements of DNA and barcodes, two powerful symbols of individuality and information. DNA is the fundamental seal of life, encoding everything about a person, from genetic traits to a unique biological signature. It represents the essence of who we are at our core, an intimate and invisible thread that connects us to our ancestors and shapes our future. Barcodes, on the other hand, are modern symbols of structure, categorization, and identification. They enclose the orderly and systematic nature of information in the digital age, reflecting the structured environment of my Dutch origins. In this exhibition, these two concepts merge into abstract compositions pulsing with electric colors. Each piece invites you to explore the dynamic interaction between order and chaos, structure and fluidity, heritage, and adaptation. The vibrant tones and dynamic forms reflect the energy and diversity of Argentina, while the underlying patterns and structures nod to the precise orderliness of the Netherlands. Through this fusion, my work seeks to uncover the deeper layers of identity and the complex narratives that define us. As you navigate this exhibition, consider the stories encoded in each artwork. Just as DNA carries the essence of life and barcodes contain information in their lines, my art encapsulates the journey of migration and cultural fusion, portraying how every element of our being is a blend of where we come from and where we are going.

BIO

Daniel Stroomer, also known as Nasepop (1982, Amsterdam), currently resides and works in Argentina. Nasepop began painting graffiti at a young age in the new city of Almere and continued for approximately 20 years. In 2008, he moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina. His artistic journey began in the 1990s as a graffiti artist and graphic designer during the transition from the analog to the digital world. This shift deeply influenced his work, as moving away from traditional graffiti techniques led to the exploration of digital aesthetics, new materials, forms, and color palettes. After years of developing his graffiti style, Daniel began exploring smaller formats, creating studio works with a keen interest in abstract and architectural themes. The contrast between his home country and Buenos Aires had a significant impact on this creative evolution. In recent years, Daniel has turned to architecture, creating sculptures from various materials like wood and metal and drawing from his abstract paintings. Rooted in his urban background, his work frequently challenges the visual landscape of cities, creating graffiti, murals, sculptures, and objects that disrupt their surroundings with a distinct, distorting effect.