- Editor’s note: This post is out of date. Please see our newer post about Arte BA here.
ArtBa is a contemporary art extravaganza for art collectors and those who just wish they were. The event, billed as Latin America’s largest art fair, draws artists, curators, gallery owners and art junkies from across the globe. It also hosts high-profile international collectors, among them gallery owners and celebrities. This year, Hollywood front-man, John Cusack already dropped by to view the exhibits.
The ArteBA Foundation’s annual event grows every year, with over 120,000 people visiting Palermo’s La Rural to see work from 71 regional and international galleries.
In its 2011 edition, ArteBA celebrates its 20th year. On show are the works of renowned artists such as Marta Minujín, Zulema Maza, Roberto Jacoby and Miguel Rothschild. International works include those of Peru’s Giancarlo Scaglia, Brazil’s Abraham Palatnik, Uruguay’s Antonio Berni and the U.S.A.’s Mark Barquet.
Once again this year, entrance includes a free audio guide mapped out by curator Alicia de Arteaga and read by local radio legend, Lalo Mir. Visitors can download the MP3 here to listen on their Ipod while viewing the show, or provide an I.D. to get a set of headphones at the fair. Note, the download is only available in Spanish.
For the eighth year a few lucky artists will be selected to receive the highly-anticipated AR$50,000 ArteBA-Petrobras Visual Arts Prize to sponsor the creation of new work for exhibit at ArteBA.
To see works of emerging regional artists, head to the Chandon Barrio Joven section, meant to foster new talent in the Latin American art world.
A debut section this year is the U-TURN Project Rooms, bringing together 11 worldwide galleries with 18 artists, in an exhibit meant to explore new trends in the world of international art.
The last four evenings of the fair there are ‘Living Room chats’ at 7:00 p.m. to explore the collection of Banco Cuidad. On Thursday and Saturday evening is ‘The origin and the current situation of Banco Ciudad in the Arts,’ a summary of their acquired works. On Friday and Sunday the talk presented is, ‘Norman Foster in Buenos Aires.’

Brought together with the help of a multitude of corporate sponsors, ArteBA helps with the acquisition of new works for some of Argentine’s top museums including MALBA and the Museo Superior de Bellas Artes Evita in Córdoba.
As always, the city’s top notch Department of Culture will be participating as a sponsor. They will host the free Open Forum, with a contemporary art exhibition, art film projections and presentations. On the fair’s final day they will present local experimental film, an improvisational performance and live music by local dub band, Nairobi and a show called Guachocumbiero, by provincial folk musician, Martín Giménez.
Those purchasing works to take abroad will want to read this post about the legal steps necessary to export art from Argentina. Those who can’t afford any of the artwork on display at ArteBA but want a souvenir can purchase the ArteBA catalogue at the exhibit.
ArteBA 2011
May 19— 23
La Rural
Avenida Sarmiento 2704
-Blue and green pavilions
Palermo
Tel: 4816-8704
• Hours: 1:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.
• General Entrance: $38
• Seniors and Students: $20
• Kids under 12 free