CDMX & L.A. Art Week
In early 2025, both Mexico City Art Week and Los Angeles Art Week showcased the resilience and innovation of the global art community, each reflecting unique cultural narratives and artistic trends. Art Seen explored both fairs and studied the trends, techniques, and exhibition design presented by both cities this year. Aside from the expected blue-chip artworks, we came across numerous fresh bodies of work, utilization of technology, experimental booth design and much more:
Mexico City Art Week 2025: A Fusion of Tradition and Modernity
Held from February 5 to 9, Mexico City Art Week featured over 90 venues, transforming the city into a vibrant art hub. The centerpiece, Zona Maco, Latin America's largest art fair, celebrated its 21st edition with 220 galleries from 30 countries. Our favorite areas for art and culture during the fair were Polanco, Roma Norte and Condesa.
Other fairs included:
Clavo, an innovative art fair targeted toward new collectors is held at an Old Electricians School Building in the Juárez region of Mexico City. Each floor of the old school is filled with classrooms with each room taken over by a gallery, artist, or organization and is transformed into an art installation - some spaces even host performance throughout the week. It felt communal, refreshing, and liberated like art school in New York before widespread social media.
The 11th edition of contemporary art fair Feria Material took place from 6 to 9 February 2025, once again located at Expo Reforma in Mexico City. We found Material to be a midway point between a formal Zona Maco or Art Basel and alternative fairs like Clavo and Spring Break. It was manageable in size and had a wide variety of works and mediums. Our favorite was the paca style installation by Guatemalan painter David Ramírez Cotón. It was both technically and conceptually strong as well as playful and inviting.
Salón ACME is a platform and an art event created by artists for artists, giving visibility to emerging creators who develop their work both in Mexico and abroad. It’s a great space to discover something new and truly authentic to the artists themselves.
There were also incredible gallery and museum exhibitions citywide. One gallery that we recommend in Mexico City is Proyectos Monclova which was exhibiting artists Tercerunquinto Collective and Circe Irasema. Works by Circe Irasema were also on display at the David Siqueiros museum which houses permanent murals by the artist and activist himself, along with spaces for contemporary artists. It’s practically impossible to see everything that Mexico City art week has to offer. We hope you find some inspiration in some of our favorites from CDMX Art Week 2025.
Artistic Trends and Materials:There was a broader trend toward integrating craft with contemporary themes. From our perspective of international fairs, Mexico City had a more diverse and experimental presentation overall. Many emerging South and Central American artists are also given a platform that you are not as likely to see at other international art fairs.
Notable Sales:
While specific sales figures were not publicly disclosed, the fair's diverse offerings attracted significant attention from international collectors. It is reported that a Stanley Whitney painting sold for $650,000 and a 2023 Julian Schnabel work was acquired for $450,000, among other notable transactions. Even the team at Art Seen enjoyed the fun of procuring a couple works by emerging artists based in Mexico, including a plaster sculpture “Power Is Everything,” a poignant art object representing a poetic barbell weight, by Guanajuato based artist and body builder, Gabriel Lengeling.
Los Angeles Art Week 2025: Resilience Amidst Adversity
Despite recent wildfires affecting over 40,000 acres and 10,000 homes, Los Angeles Art Week proceeded from February 20 to 23, symbolizing the city's resilience. Frieze Los Angeles returned to Santa Monica Airport, featuring nearly 100 international galleries.
Other fairs included:
One of Art Seen’s favorites, Felix Art Fair which takes over the iconic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel during art week. The galleries present works in hotel rooms, creating a relaxed and unconventional art-viewing experience. The quality of the art is top notch and the curation of both 2D and 3D forms throughout bedrooms, living rooms, and even the hotel bathrooms is exciting.
Post Fair highlights cutting-edge, experimental work in an intimate setting, fostering dialogue between artists and collectors. The fair takes its name from its setting, formerly a USPS location known as Santa Monica Post Office in Santa Monica, CA.
The Other Art Fair champions emerging and independent artists, offering collectors the chance to discover affordable, original works in a dynamic and accessible atmosphere.
LA Art Show, one of the city's longest-running fairs, showcases a diverse range of art, from contemporary to historical.
Artistic Trends and Materials:
This year’s fairs emphasized creative resilience with many events and exhibitions geared toward fundraising and non-profit causes in support of rebuilding Los Angeles’ affected areas and helping locals impacted by the disasters. Colorful gallery booth walls and overall booth design that brought additional context to the artworks was a highlight of this year’s fairs.
Notable Sales:
An Elizabeth Peyton painting sold for $2.8 million during Frieze, one of the more memorable sales as well as a very unique Keith Haring painting on glass that sold for $2 million. Aside from the blue-chip and established artist sales, there are a multitude of transactions happening at art events throughout the city.
If you’re new to collecting, you can purchase more accessible artworks at The Other Art Fair. Intermediate level collectors find Felix Art Fair and Post Fair to be opportunities for great acquisitions.
Comparative Insights
Both art weeks underscored the global art community's adaptability. Mexico City celebrated its rich cultural heritage by merging traditional crafts with contemporary art, while Los Angeles highlighted themes of resilience and renewal in response to environmental challenges. These events not only showcased artistic excellence but also reflected the enduring spirit of their respective cities.
As the art world evolves, these gatherings serve as testaments to the power of creativity in navigating and interpreting complex global narratives. To learn more or for Art Seen guidance with art fair procurement, connect with us here.
