The 33rd edition of Artissima International Contemporary Art Fair concluded on November 1 at the Oval del Lingotto in Turin, marking the end of a four-day event that drew over 34,000 visitors. The fair showcased the work of 183 galleries representing 35 countries across four continents, with 37 of these institutions participating for the first time.
Among the key figures present were more than 700 national and international collectors and curators, alongside 45 institutional groups and museum patrons from around the world. Notable attendees included representatives from the Malba - Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires, Modern Art Oxford, and the Adiaf - Association pour la Diffusion Internationale de l'Art Français in Paris.
Luigi Fassi, the director of Artissima since 2022, emphasized that the fair is built on the conviction that artistic research and trust-building are not merely accessories to the art market but are fundamental in determining its value. According to Fassi, research and experimentation serve as clear economic resources, and a fair's international recognition depends primarily on the strength and coherence of its identity.
Fassi further stated that one of Artissima's cultural and economic responsibilities is to avoid simply recording market trends and instead contribute to guiding their evolution by keeping research at the center of its identity. In 2026, the event also aimed to strengthen its function as a platform for cultural diplomacy, fostering dialogue between artistic systems, institutions, and international cultural policies.
This diplomatic dimension was highlighted by the presence of the Ministry of Culture through the General Directorate of Contemporary Creativity, as well as an official visit from Ina Brandes, the Minister of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Sources: ANSA Cultura.