It is hard to fathom that Art Week in Miami was without a fair broadly focused on Latin American Art until last year but until Pinta Miami opened in 2014 that was the case.
"Nobody really thought of it.” says Diego Costa Peuser, Executive Director of Pinta and a founder of the fair. Peuser is also the publisher of Arte al Día magazine.
The fair began in New York City in 2007 and expanded to London in 2010. They feature art from the abstract, concrete, neo-concrete, kinetic and conceptual art movements in virtually every media you could imagine (excluding those with incredibly fertile imaginations perhaps). Pinta runs December 2 to 6, 2015 at Mana Wynwood.
Peuser thinks that one reason there was no specific Latin American fair is that, even in Miami, there was a lack of information. He says that Latin American Art is a different ball game, in part, because until recently interest in Latin American art was limited.
"There was a resurgence six or seven years ago when international collectors became interested,” says Peuser. “International biennials now have Latin American art curators and artists."
"Clearly people coming to pinta are looking to see what is new in Latin American art. What makes Pinta different, and not just for collectors but everyone, is the opportunity to see artists who are up and coming. It also gives a chance to discover new artists; collectors love to do that," he says. "Another important thing about Pinta is that it is a curated fair. We have different sections and each has its own curator who evaluates the galleries and work...it is not a free-for all."
While Miami hasn’t had fairs that include all of Latin America there have been fairs focused on specific countries or “subsections” of fairs dedicated to the region.Part of the reason behind the dearth in fairs dedicated to Latin America may be only tangentially related to art.
"Within the region Latin America art itself is different but what is common is that, until six or seven years ago there was a lack of presence internationally. Now, better marketing is bringing the art out to larger audiences." says Peuser. "There had been a lack of marketing and business impulse but as the economies have improved in Latin America people go to the area for investment. Art is always considered in that platform."
"Mana, in Wynwood, is a very interesting space. Pinta is just one of the projects they will be working on during Art Week. The space will host other initiatives." says Peuser.
An ongoing Latin American-focused Art Fair in Miami is essential to Miami’s identity as an art destination--for art lovers as well as art collectors. Miami is also important to Latin American artists and ex-patriots.
"Miami is a bridge. People in Latin America live with one foot in their country and one foot in Miami." says Peuser.
Peuser travels 150,000 miles a year making this fair and Pinta’s other fair in New York City happen. It is also located in the Wynwood area where anyone who is an Art Week visitor should take time to wander. In that wandering be sure to visit Pinta.
Pinta Miami includes conferences, PINTA Forum (conversations curated by Roc Laseca). There will also be collaborations with the Miami Symphony Orchestra, Tiroche DeLeon Collection and the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation.
December 2 to 6, 2015
Fair hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
at Mana Wynwood (318 N.W. 23rd Ave. Miami)
Sections:
PINTA Modern curated by Osbel Suarez
PINTA Contemporary curated by Curatorial Committee
PINTA Photography curated by José Antonio Navarrete & Rodrigo Alonso
PINTA Drawing curated by Roc Laseca
PINTA Project: Time Sensitive curated by Jesús Fuenmayor
Pinta Miami’s main sponsor is EFG Capital, a Zurich-based international banking firm.