Pinta fair in Miami spotlights Latin American art in politically charged moment in time

Beyond Miami Art Week’s central nodes, the Pinta Art Fair is forging a path for Latin American art. Now in its fourth year at a waterfront hangar in the Coconut Grove neighbourhood, a half-hour from Miami Beach by car (traffic permitting), Pinta features around 40 galleries this year from 19 cities across the Americas as well as Europe. One of the organisers’ goals is to spotlight contemporary art from across Latin America, a task made more difficult by the region’s often fraught politics, further complicated by the Trump administration’s policies.

“It was a challenge to bring together all the galleries, because they’re afraid to enter the US,” says the fair’s director, Irene Gelfman. Members of Pinta’s curatorial team add that several artists also faced difficulties travelling to the country due to visa issues.

Despite these challenges, the organisers remain optimistic about the region’s expansive art scene. In addition to fairs in Miami, Lima and Buenos Aires, Pinta also hosts art weeks in cities on the margins of the Latin American art market, including Panama City and Asunción, Paraguay. Art weeks are also planned for 2026 in Medellín, Colombia, and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. According to the organisers, the goal of these events is to support art scenes in cities and countries that are still developing their cultural ecosystems.

“It’s a way of working within the local context, strengthening what already exists and growing together,” says Juan Canela, curator of Pinta’s Next sector and chief curator of the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Panamá. “You have galleries, museums and incredible artists, but the infrastructure is often small and fragile. These kinds of initiatives help you grow. It’s an interesting model for places in Latin America that have great potential but not yet the necessary capacity.”

One of the most eye-catching stands at the fair reflects this developmental approach. Two galleries from Asunción—Viedma Galería de Arte and Artística Galería—collaborated on a presentation titled Entre Tierras (Between Lands), featuring some of Paraguay’s most notable contemporary artists. The stand includes earthenware ceramics by sisters Carolina and Elditrudis Noguera, as well as Karaguata textile works created by Indigenous communities from the Gran Chaco region.

Both galleries have consistently participated in Pinta’s Asunción art weeks and Miami art fairs, with tangible results. A Karaguata piece by Elsa Gómez was acquired by Jorge Pérez and exhibited in 2023 at his Miami venue, El Espacio 23.

Collaborations between galleries are a recurring feature of the fair. Another shared stand brings together Galería Matia Borgonovo from San Salvador and Encarte from Mexico City. Borgonovo presents text-based works by Abigail Reyes, while Encarte showcases a series of pendant paintings by Marco Aviña that combine traditional Mexican iconography with references from pop culture.

Encarte’s founders describe themselves as the “punks of Polanco,” referring to the upscale neighbourhood that hosts institutions such as Museo Jumex and Museo Soumaya. The shared stand marks the gallery’s first participation in both Miami and Pinta. Luis Alonso Sanchez, a curator at Encarte, says that spending time in the city has led him to reflect on Miami’s role as both a hub for Latin culture and a conduit for US influence across the Americas.

“This is the capital of Latin America,” Sanchez says. “This is the third time I’ve spoken English in the city since I arrived three days ago.”

Read the full article at: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/12/05/pinta-fair-in-miami-spotlights-latin-american-art-in-politically-charged-moment-in-time