The eleventh edition of Swab, an international art fair born in Barcelona, will offer a strong program in the coming days – from September 27 to 30 at the Italian Pavilion (Fira de Montjuïc). Nearly 300 established artists alongside emerging ones from more than 60 galleries across five continents will showcase their most innovative proposals in different artistic disciplines.
An essential event to get to know the local and international artists that make up the current scene. And, a commitment that remains faithful to the objectives set by its founder, private collector Joaquín Díez-Cascón, in 2006: "To break with the hermetic and elitist image that often surrounds the world of contemporary art and make it more accessible to the general public." The fair consolidates itself as an event that generates opportunities for emerging artists, galleries, and curators to access the art market.
This year's program kicks off with: The Desert and the Cactus, curated by Omar López-Chahoud, brings together six galleries from Brooklyn's painting scene. Performance, in association with the Diputació de Barcelona and under a jury formed by Alexandra Laudo, Imma Prieto, and Joan Morey, showcases the work of six Catalan artists or residents in Catalonia. Ephemeral, curated by Caterina Almirall, establishes itself as a unique platform for artists, strengthening ties through the creation factories Hangar, Fabra i Coats, and La Escocesa.
And an unprecedented program that includes the participation of elBulli Foundation. This edition also allows for the premiere of Reading, an editorial concept store where art finds other forms of expression through books. For its part, the renowned General program involves the participation of prominent and long-established galleries. The On paper proposal, a space to reinterpret the artistic language of paper as a contemporary technique. And the programs My First Art Fair and Seed. The first grants scholarships to three galleries that are less than two years old and have never participated in an international art fair. And the second offers an opportunity to galleries and artist collectives that champion new platforms and creative formats.