FORO IN PINTA PANAMÁ ART WEEK: FOUR LIVE-TALKS NOT TO BE MISSED
From Thursday, May 22 to Saturday, May 24, the FORO at Pinta Panamá Art Week will take place across various institutions in the city. Curated by Mónica E. Kupfer, the series presents a diverse program featuring both local and international experts. The event is free and open to the general public.
The Pinta Panamá Art Week Forum serves as a space for reflection and debate on the contemporary art scenes of Central America and the Caribbean. Four conversations will be held to explore the challenges and opportunities in curatorial practices across the region, the role of collecting in the development of contemporary art, the dynamics of local and international art markets, and evolving models of art management, gallery work, and professionalization.
Rethinking Curatorial Practice from the Region
On Thursday, May 22 at 2:00 p.m., the program will open with a conversation at the auditorium of the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Panamá (MAC Panamá), aimed at rethinking curatorial practice from Latin American contexts. Speakers will include Juan Canela, Chief Curator of MAC Panamá; Sofía Villena Araya, Chief Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MADC) in San José; and Emiliano Valdés, curator and strategic advisor based in Guatemala City. The museum is located on Calle San Blas, Ancón, next to the Panamanian Institute of Special Education and the Family Courts.
From Collectors to Founders of Foundations and Institutes in Spain and Panama
Later that same day, at 4:00 p.m., the Centro Cultural de España – Casa del Soldado will host a second forum focusing on the role of art collecting in the formation of cultural institutions. Participants include Julia Morandeira Arrizabalaga, Director of the Cáder Institute of Central American Art and Head of Studies at the Reina Sofía Museum (Madrid); Nivaldo Carbonell, President of Fundación Los Carbonell – Espacio Arte (Panama); and Johnny Roux, President of Fundación Casa Santa Ana (Panama). Casa del Soldado is located on Paseo Esteban Huertas in the Casco Antiguo.
The Contemporary Art Market: Local and International Perspectives
On Friday, May 23 at 3:30 p.m., the Auditorio Mercantil will host a conversation focused on the contemporary art market from both local and global viewpoints. Speakers will include Antonio Murzi, collector and President of the Board of MAC Panamá; María Sancho-Arroyo, art market expert and adjunct professor at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York; and Johann Wolfschoon, architect at Sketch and Director of Galería Diablo Rosso. The auditorium is located in the Torre Mercantil – Casa Matriz, at the intersection of Calle 50 and Calle 58 in Obarrio.
One of the forum’s highlights will be a talk by María Sancho-Arroyo, a leading expert in the art market with over thirty years of international experience. She will present her latest work, Investment or Passion? A Guide to Navigating the Art Market, offering reflections on the current dynamics of the art world and how collectors and investors can make informed decisions in an ever-evolving landscape.
Exhibitions and Latin American Curatorial Practice in Diverse Contexts
The program will conclude on Saturday, May 24 at 3:30 p.m., with a conversation at the Museo del Canal auditorium, focused on Latin American curatorial and exhibition practices across various institutional settings. Speakers will include Ana Elizabeth González, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Museo del Canal; Gerardo Mosquera, curator, critic, and art historian based in Havana and Madrid; and again Juan Canela. The museum is located in Plaza de la Independencia, Calle 5ª Este, in the Casco Viejo.
The Pinta Art Week Forum is a transversal platform present at all major contemporary art fairs organized by Pinta, including Pinta Miami, Pinta BAphoto, Pinta Lima, and Art Week Asunción. This year, it makes its debut at Pinta Panamá Art Week, further consolidating its role as a cornerstone of this celebration of art.
In 2024 alone, the Forum brought together more than 200 specialists and has become a major space for encounter, debate, and reflection for professionals and art enthusiasts alike. Under the supervision of Irene Gelfman, Artistic Director of all Pinta events, the Forum ensures curatorial consistency and high-quality programming. Each edition is led by a professional coordinator—this time, Mónica E. Kupfer, who oversees the organization and development of the event’s agenda.
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