New Latin American painting is experiencing a vibrant moment. Curator Christian Viveros-Fauné has chosen five must-see artists at UVNT who are reinventing the medium.
The most refreshing date with contemporary art is back. This year, UVNT Art Fair returns to Matadero Madrid from Thursday, March 6 to Sunday, March 9. Over 40 galleries will participate, half of them international. The 2025 edition brings both a new feature and a clear statement of intent: celebrating Latin American art and establishing a dialogue around it through the FOCO LATAM section, curated by Christian Viveros-Fauné, which brings together nine projects from galleries across the continent.
The artists selected to represent Latin American contemporary art span a broad spectrum, ranging from abstraction to figuration, merging art and literature, and exploring social issues through painting techniques. Yet a common thread unites all their work: they have chosen painting as the medium of expression, and while each draws from diverse sources, all have filtered their creations through the lens of the present, reinterpreting codes, traditions, and themes. “There’s a sort of updating of painting happening in various Latin American countries, rooted in centuries-old traditions and modern subjects. Painting is the oldest artistic medium. As such, it can both invoke history with a capital ‘H’ and slow down our gaze in an era defined by amnesia and speed,” Viveros-Fauné tells MANERA, highlighting these five unmissable artists for the fair and beyond.
María Yzada
(Lima, Peru, 1995) moves between the figurative and the abstract, hinting at bodies that never fully materialize. As in children’s paintings, shape and color dominate over line, imparting a vibrant spontaneity to her compositions. Her use of color recalls artists like Georgia O’Keeffe, in a pictorial exploration that is as delicate as it is expressive. Featured here: Portal IV (2024).
Rolankay
(Chañaral, Chile, 1989) defines his practice through figuration, color, and large-scale formats, in tune with the New Figuration movement. His solid, saturated hues break free from any ties to reality, allowing scenes where blue tigers or purple faces become protagonists. This chromatic approach is reminiscent of Fauvism, as well as the vibrant palette of David Hockney.
Mónica Figueroa
(Oaxaca, Mexico, 1991) explores representations of the female body. Her work calls to mind a reimagined Gauguin, seen through a contemporary lens, and carries an aesthetic close to magical realism. Much like Latin American literature, her painting transcends reality to venture into the dreamlike, connecting with artists such as Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo. Featured here: Amigas InterEspecie (2024).
Román de Castro
(Mexico City, Mexico, 1988) employs a markedly naïf style that balances image and text in a distinctive way. His canvases are dominated by humorous or poetic phrases, generating a personal narrative that challenges the viewer. The simplicity of his lines and the apparent spontaneity of his words conceal an unexpected depth and sense of reflection.
Paul Amundarain
(Caracas, Venezuela, 1985), though residing in the United States, maintains a strong dialogue with the geometric and kinetic art that rose to prominence in his home country in the last century. His abstract work stands out for its use of black, white, and geometry. Amundarain transfers this legacy onto canvas, reinterpreting it through a personal visual language.
Carolina Freire Vales
