PINTA PANAMÁ ART WEEK: THE CENTRAL AMERICAN COUNTRY PLACED ON THE GLOBAL CONTEMPORARY ART MAP
The first edition of Pinta Panamá Art Week was a collective celebration that transformed the city into a major stage for contemporary art and Central American culture. The event welcomed over 650 attendees at its official opening and thousands of visitors throughout the week, with daily activities including exhibition openings, talks, guided tours, and urban experiences. The week was marked by a strong commitment to strengthening and valuing local identity.
“We experienced an unforgettable week: Pinta Panamá Art Week exceeded our expectations and confirmed that this is just the beginning. We celebrate a powerful first edition that connected cultures and opened new doors. All of this was made possible through public-private synergy—our special thanks to EFG, our Global Lead Partner, as well as to the Ministry of Culture, the Municipality, and our Local Lead Partner, Mercantil”, said Diego Costa Peuser, Global Director of Pinta.
Under the artistic direction of Irene Gelfman and general curatorship of Emiliano Valdés, the event presented a broad and diverse perspective on contemporary practices, with a strong regional focus. The program featured more than 20 institutions and art spaces, and over 12 local and international guest speakers took part in FORO, a four-day series of conversations coordinated by Mónica Kupfer, which was fully booked before the start of the week and packed at every session.
FORO gathered renowned international voices such as Gerardo Mosquera, Julia Morandeira Arrizabalaga, María Sancho-Arroyo, and Sofia Villena Araya, among others, to engage in discussions that delved into collecting, curating, institutions, and current regional challenges.
Key cultural institutions played an essential role throughout Pinta Panamá Art Week, including MAC Panamá, Museo del Canal, Museo de la Mola (MUMO) | Fundación Alberto Motta, Ciudad de las Artes | Ministry of Culture of Panama, Fundación Casa Santa Ana, Centro Cultural de España | Casa del Soldado, Fundación Los Carbonell, and Espacio Arte, along with an exclusive visit to the Antonio Murzi & Diana Morgan Collection. These institutions contributed with exhibitions and activities that filled their spaces with a diverse audience.
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Pinta Panamá 2025
A fundamental chapter was the collaboration with Mercantil, Local Lead Partner of the event, which not only supported the initiative institutionally but also hosted key activities such as FORO and public guided tours of its collection.
MAC Popular brought Pinta Panamá Art Week to a vibrant close with a celebration of Panamanian popular culture. Inspired by the iconic Diablos Rojos buses, the event combined art, music, and gastronomy, filling the final night of Art Week with color and urban energy. The week concluded with a special family-focused event on Sunday, May 25, at Ciudad de las Artes, organized by the Olga Sinclair Foundation and Pinta Foundation, with more than 200 children enjoying a morning of creativity and artistic exploration.
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Pinta Panamá 2025
Pinta Panamá Art Week 2025 was made possible thanks to the support of its main sponsors: EFG as Global Lead Partner; key partnerships with the Ministry of Culture, the Municipality of Panama, and Mercantil as Local Lead Partner; along with multiple public-private alliances that supported this first edition: Ministry of Tourism, CAF, Pacific Hills, Copa Airlines, Porsche, Roche Bobois, Veló, Montblanc, Sofitel Hotel, Sortis Hotel, Grupo Maito, Fundación Los Carbonell, Fundación Olga Sinclair, Soho House Illuminations, Ilumitec, Navarro Correas, Evian, Perrier, RC Law, and Inmobiliaria San Felipe.
Our Local Media Partners included: La Prensa, Panama's leading daily newspaper; Mundo Social; and our Media Partner Arte al Día Internacional.
This remarkable event bids farewell until 2026, promising a second edition with the continued mission of building bridges between the local scene and the international circuit. A successful close to Pinta Panamá Art Week, which has now established itself as a key platform to strengthen networks, promote culture, and expand the Latin American art market—from the heart of Panama to the world.
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