BEYOND THE ART FAIR: ARTBO | FIN DE SEMANA AND ITS IMPACT ON THE LOCAL SCENE

Following the gallery weekend model, also present in other cities around the world, ARTBO | Fin de Semana has become a key platform for artists and galleries in Bogotá, positioning the city as a growing hub within the Latin American art scene.

From a market perspective, ARTBO | Fin de Semana has established itself as a key event for energizing the local scene. According to León Tovar, a renowned gallerist specializing in Latin American art based in New York for over three decades, who participated with his space, LT Projects. He emphasizes that the event represents a highly valuable opportunity for galleries. LT Projects has already held four exhibitions in Bogotá as a complement to the programming of its New York gallery, intending to bring visibility to conceptually powerful artists from Colombia and the region who have not yet gained recognition in the local market, to then develop a strategy for international projection. They are currently presenting a solo show by Juliana Ríos, which coincides with a parallel exhibition by the artist at the Museo Santa Clara. The exhibition will later continue its journey to two additional international institutions.

Tovar stresses that the event also plays a fundamental role in strengthening Bogotá’s contemporary art ecosystem by generating significant commercial movement and encouraging the city’s audience to engage with galleries, many of which do not take part in the main fair in September. In this edition, LT Projects sold out all the works presented in Juliana Ríos’ show. “Bogotá is going through a vibrant moment, with a very dynamic artistic offering and spaces presenting cutting-edge proposals,” states the gallerist. He also explains that his decision to establish a presence in Colombia, his home country, stems from a commitment to support the local market and actively contribute to its growth as a reference gallery in the contemporary field.

It’s important to highlight how the gallery weekend initiative not only reactivates the market but also becomes a vital platform for artists, encouraging exchange in a more direct and casual setting.

Such is the case with María Paula Suárez, a Colombian artist based in New York, who traveled to Bogotá specifically to be part of this edition with her solo exhibition La vida es alquimia, presented at Otros 360 gallery in the Chapinero district, which also reported a sold-out show.

Suárez highlights the importance of ARTBO | Fin de Semana for young artists in the scene. The timing of her exhibition alongside the event allowed her to further strengthen her ties in Colombia and open up new opportunities for professional growth. “It’s an incredible platform for exposure and visibility because it goes beyond the work we do with the gallery and links us to a wider network,” she says. Participating in this edition enabled her to reconnect with colleagues and increase the visibility of her work at a key moment in the artistic calendar, creating tangible opportunities to engage with curators, collectors, and other cultural agents. For Suárez, staying connected to this network is essential, as it allows these agents to closely follow the development of her work, building lasting relationships and fostering deeper engagement with her artistic journey.

Events like ARTBO | Fin de Semana show that the strength of an art scene doesn't depend only on major international fairs, but also on accessible formats that naturally connect with galleries, artists, institutions, and independent spaces. With a record attendance surpassing 83,000 visitors and the participation of more than 86 cultural spaces across the city, this edition confirms the ability of a gallery weekend to activate the city, attract new audiences to contemporary art, and generate opportunities for those within the artistic ecosystem.

In an uncertain global art market, marked by doubts surrounding international fairs, tariffs, and high participation costs, initiatives like this one take on even greater significance. With an increasingly committed local community, more than just an annual event, this initiative establishes itself as a cultural activation model that can endure over time, positioning Bogotá as a reference within the map of contemporary Latin American art.