Andrew Barsch - Journalist

Four hundred works on display. Thirty five galleries represented. One thousand eight hundred square metres of floor space. And I’m not talking about Warner Bros Park. It’s the 3rd annual DeARTE art fair, and since its incarnation two years ago, DeARTE has converted Madrid into the Spanish art capital by bringing together galleries from around the country to show off their wares under one roof. Yes, it’s an opportunity for galleries to hawk their merchandise if you’re in the market, but if money’s tight after a voracious spending spree this holiday season, just think of DeARTE as a museum exhibition, where you can stroll around from stand to stand admiring what’s on display.

And just what is on display? “Every style and trend in contemporary art,” says Miguel Tugores, director of DeARTE. “Art that can be acquired, or seen in a museum, and both classic and modern painting by established artists and newcomers.” And there’s also performance art and live-action artist workshops for those who prefer a more hands-on approach.

Starting with the big dogs, Galería Lorenart is represented by some 20th-century masters such as Picasso, and there’s that outstanding Marilyn Monroe lithograph by Andy Warhol. But if you’re ready to move on to some unchartered territory, there’s plenty of yet-to-be-discovered 21st-century masterpieces as well. The photography is worth a mention; with Galería El Quatre displaying Carlos Díaz’s almost unnaturally decorated shop windows if you’re into contrast of colour, and that’s just the photographic beginning.

So if you do have some extra dosh floating around this January, DeARTE would certainly be the place to spend it. You’re not a collector, you say? Visitors last year agreed that DeARTE is the ideal place to become a first-time art collector, with galleries providing onlookers with a user-friendly approach to what’s on display. So go on, trust your instincts, do something crazy and buy yourself an original work of art. You’re getting a bit old for those ratty posters on your walls, aren’t you?