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Swab 2018 warms up its engines
01March
Events

Swab 2018 warms up its engines

This art fair will present, during September 27-30, the latest trends, gathered in 70 galleries and spaces, and with more than 300 artists from around the world.

Swab Barcelona ArtFair will present its eleventh edition next September 27, 28, 29 and 30. After the celebration of its tenth anniversary, it is consolidated as one of the independent art fairs of international reference and with a more mature profile. This 2018 will continue to show outstanding artists and galleries, along with what is most representative from the emerging scene, which historically has been its raison d'etre.

For this new edition, Swab will have 70 galleries from around the world, which will gather up to 300 artists, expanding its general program and maintaining its commitment to curated programs. Thus, the Contemporary Art Fair maintains and incorporates new members to its selection committee, made up of collectors Harold Berg, an economist and member of the Photography Committee of the Whitney Museum of American Art; Giuseppe Casarotto, engineer and president of the ClubGAMeC of Bergamo; and Alfredo Hertzog, president of Hertzog Art Business together with Domenico de Chirico, who is an independent curator; and Danny Baez, an independent curator and co-founder and director of the MECA International Art Fair in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Swab 2018 is committed to continue being a cultural exchange platform and highlight the potential of the city of Barcelona with new international proposals, as well as through the Fundación Swab Barcelona. The objective of the fair is to support and encourage new talents and artistic spaces, creating a cultural exchange with the city of Barcelona.

As in every edition, Swab presents its General program, made up of prestigious galleries with a tradition, and coexists with new proposals of programs such as On Paper, where the artistic language of paper is reinterpreted as a contemporary technique; Swab Ephemeral, formed by ephemeral and installation projects that invite us to interact and reflect on our situation in a globalized and accelerated system and Performance, one of the most experimental programs that reflects on the limits of space and the instantaneity of art.

In addition, as a hallmark of the fair, Swab is involved in empowering young artists, galleries and independent spaces, through the MYFAF and Seed programs. The first provides a scholarship to three galleries with less than two years of life and that have never held an international art fair, helping them to start on the international circuit, while Seed is a program aimed at new gallery spaces and groups of artists that reflect the new platforms and formats of the present time.

Collectors program

As in previous editions, Swab Barcelona once again has a program of collectors from all over the world. Its objective is to enhance and expand its private collections through attractive novelties, as well as to bring this world closer to the new collector who starts with passion and knowledge of contemporary art.

This program seeks to offer collectors the chance to enjoy the fair and all its proposals, as well as to live an artistic and personal experience in the city of Barcelona through visits to private collections, art centers, exclusive events and all the proposals artistic offered during those days in the city.

Awards and acquisitions

After 11 editions, Swab consolidates its awards and acquisition programs. Among them, we find the Fundación Banc Sabadell for the best gallery, DKV for the best Spanish artist, MANGO for the best emerging artist, Grisart for the best photography, Idea Art Marset for the best innovative work and Diezy7 Collection for the Drawing Award.

Friends Swab

The Amigos de Swab program is created for all those who believe in the importance of supporting contemporary art and its new exponents. Since its inception, the fair has opted for emerging talent, creating opportunities for young galleries, artists and curators to access and grow within the art market. Being a Swab friend, you can also support this mission to encourage new talent and bring the world of contemporary art closer to the general public.

Registration notice open

Swab 2018 welcomes all international galleries showing an innovative program and opens its registration period from February 1 to April 15.

Be a Swabber!

Open call for registration: from February 1 to April 15

What: Swab ArtFair.

When: September 27, 28, 29 and 30

Where: Italian Pavilion (Fira de Montjuïc).