An Explosion of Color and Culture: ArtRio Celebrates 15 Years as Rio's Global Art Arena

As the art world traditionally pauses in anticipation of the fall fair season, attention this year is focused on Rio de Janeiro. ArtRio, long established as the most important platform for Latin American art, is celebrating its 15th anniversary not just with a fair, but with a grand citywide festival that will transform the Carnival Capital into the epicenter of global art dialogue for a week.

From September 10th to 14th, the historic Marina da Glória will once again host the heart of the fair—the TERRA and MAR pavilions, bringing together more than 80 leading galleries. However, in 2025, the event extends far beyond the exhibition halls. ArtRio and the city's mayor's office are officially launching the first Rio de Janeiro Art and Culture Week. This strategic move signals the transformation of the event from a commercial venue into a citywide cultural asset, encompassing visual arts, film, theater, and dance, with the goal of democratizing access to art for every resident and visitor.

"ArtRio has earned a reputation as a fair of the highest quality with enormous business potential," notes the fair's artistic director, Maria Luz Brugger. "But its support for Art Week demonstrates a deeper impact: it activates the entire city, significantly affecting the economy and tourism."

In the run-up to the opening, the city's rhythm will be set not only by samba but also by contemporary art. Through a partnership with Clear Channel, Rio will become a giant open-air museum. Posters featuring works by 15 iconic Brazilian artists—from the playful and profound Vik Muniz to vibrant new-generation representative Lucia Laguna—will be displayed throughout the metropolis. This project blurs the lines between the white cube of the gallery and the bustling street, reminding us that art is an integral part of daily life.

The heart of the fair beats in its carefully curated sections, each offering a unique perspective on Brazilian art.

The PANORAMA program, selected by a committee of influential gallerists, features galleries that set the tone for the contemporary art market. SOLO DUO, curated by Ademar Britto, offers an intensive focus on one or two artists, allowing for a deeper immersion into their practice and an appreciation of the dialogues between their works.

The "CONTEMPORARY BRAZIL" section, curated by Paula Borghi, is particularly noteworthy. Focusing on ten galleries from different regions of the country and selecting artists who work exclusively by hand, Borghi highlights the incredible richness of Brazilian craftsmanship. Here, each piece is a bearer of history, a link between generations, a reminder of the tactile, human connection to creativity.

The jewel of the anniversary year will be the Sculpture Garden, curated by Christian Laclau. By placing 15 works against one of the most breathtaking backdrops in the world—with views of Sugarloaf Mountain and Guanabara Bay—the project creates a powerful dialogue between art and the environment. This is not just an open-air exhibition; it is a meditative space where the nature of Rio becomes part of the installation, and works of art from different generations of artists enter into a conversation with each other and with eternity.

In addition, the video art program MIRA, the discussion forum CONVERSAS, and the socially oriented program EXPANSÃO will complete the picture, demonstrating that ArtRio sees its mission not only in selling art but also in stimulating thought, education, and inclusion.

On its 15th birthday, ArtRio confirms its status as not just a fair, but a vital organ in the body of the global art world—pulsating, vibrant, and boundlessly creative.

Your guide to the world of great art, ART EXPO WORLD.
Additional reporting by Marcus Turner