Art Rotterdam focuses on photography
Great excitement in the city between collectors, the new home of the Nederlands Fotomuseum and the opening of Fenix, the Museum of Migration
Key points
From 27 to 29 March 2026 - preview on 26 -, Art Rotterdam was held at the Rotterdam Ahoy in Zuidplein, a new art area in the south of the city that is already undergoing a process of gentrification. This is the 27th edition: more than 150 galleries, mainly from the Netherlands. DHB Bank is the main sponsor. Another supporting giant is the Mondriaan Fonds, which made the Prospects section possible.
Amsterdam and Rotterdam are only an hour away, so many took the opportunity to see Dahn Vo's exhibition at the Stedelijk. The Rotterdam scene, in any case, proves to be quite sizzling in itself, pushing architecture and photography. Not surprisingly, the Amsterdam-born fair Unseen joined forces with Art Rotterdam: it was incorporated into the fair in a very smart way. In fact, an offshoot 'Unseen Publication' was held on the ground floor of the Nederlands Fotomuseum. The Dutch photography museum moved into its new home, the former Brazilian coffee roaster, just two months ago. The words 'Santos' stand out on the brick façade, while inside, besides the book booths, one appreciates a well-thought-out layout. Also inaugurated in May 2025 is the Fenix, the Museum of Migration - on colonialism, diaspora and migratory flows -, an old harbour building redesigned by MAD Architects and characterised by the 'Tornado', the staircase leading up to the ceiling that offers a panoramic view of the entire city.
The Fair, the Main Section
The Main Section has a part dedicated to Solo/Duo shows and one focusing on solo exhibitions by emerging artists. In the Solo/Duo section, the stand of No Man's Art Gallery (Amsterdam) stands out with works by Sakir Khader and Alejandro Galvan, a Mexican artist skilled in drawing, who speaks to us of violence and vulnerability. Sakir Khader, born in 1990 to Palestinian parents, spent most of his life in the West Bank and is now based in the Netherlands. He tries to preserve the memory of people and worlds that are systematically erased and dehumanised. He has portrayed Palestinian fighters in the West Bank, but the term 'fighter' is not reduced to 'he who is armed' but is meant to represent all those who resist. Thus in 'Knight', the focus shifts to the care and affective relationship between a young man and his horse as they move at night through rutted streets and crumbling buildings, in an apocalyptic war situation (€13,000, ed. 8+2). The gallery is also representing Buhlebezwe Siwani, a candidate for the Prix de Rome 2025, and present in the exhibition "In Minor Key" at the Venice Biennale, both at the Giardini and at the Arsenale.
In the Dutch capital, one can speak of good neighbours when it comes to Diez Gallery, in the same urban area as No Man's Art Gallery, despite the fact that they are located at opposite ends of the fair. Here we find a solo show by the Japanese Shimon Kamada, exquisite oils on canvas that attempt to capture rarefied atmospheres, a feeling of nostalgia and disquiet recalled by the pictorial texture. Red Lab in Milan presents a duo show by Carmen Schabracq and Agata Ferrari Bravo (class of 2001). The latter is noted for a naïve drawing and an imaginary Viminal between dream and wake (prices from 700 to 1,200 framed). Interesting, above all, are the works by both artists from the collaboration with the fashion designer Black Sheep (priced at EUR 6,000). Bradwolff & Partners presents the video work of a Korean artist Jaehun Park: a raw digital image of his mill in flames.
Also in the Main Section, we notice Spazio Nuovo, based in both Rome (Via d'Ascanio) and Amsterdam. In addition to the photographs by Chiara Bettazzi, those of Florence Di Benedetto, a series organised in diptychs of intimate domestic corners in both colour and black and white, attract attention. For DHB Art Space, "South Forward" - curated byJeanthalou Haynes & Houcem Bellakoud -, through the gaze of three artists, gives an insight into the southern conglomeration of the city where the fair is held, with a less affluent but creatively rich population. Melissa Moria starts from the community garden where you can plant whatever you want, the only rule is to share: the artist obtains pigments from the plants themselves. Karla King always reflects on cooperation and sustainability: there is a shop in the area where everyone can find what they need, be it food, work tools or skills. Every Friday, neighbourhood residents meet here to weave relationships: the artist uses used coffee capsules to add materiality to her painting. Finally, Indian-born Urvee Kulkaeni focuses on the importance of education and entertainment for children. Used socks thus become puppets, a mattress with embroidered fabrics a cosy 'nest' to sit and talk on.
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New Art Section, Prospects
In the New Art Section we meet two Italians: 1/9unosunove presents a solo exhibition of the artist Luca Grimaldi whose highly personal painting - each brushstroke corresponds to a pixel - is immediately noticeable among the stands. Doris Ghetta (based in Ortisei and Milan) focuses on the young artist from New Delhi Shivangi Kalraa. The director says: 'A beautiful fair, with a lot of energy and a strong flow of visitors, also thanks to the tours organised and followed by the fair team and the curator of the section we were invited to, Övül Ö. Durmuşoğlu. In terms of sales, the booth presented works of different formats and one small- and one medium-format work was sold to private collectors. The price range is 900 to 6,000 euro. The artist was present with us for the duration of the fair and had the opportunity to meet several curators and institutional representatives, opening up possible future developments, including the organisation of studio visits."
