Madrid is dotted with hotspots to plunge into contemporary art in its myriad forms. From the Carabanchel neighborhood to Tetuán, there are several areas where one can encounter the offerings of independent and established galleries, all accessible on a pleasant stroll.
One of the most famous, both for its significance and the proximity of its galleries - 15 within just 600 square meters - is Doctor Fourquet Street, situated close to Atocha Station and a stone's throw from the famed Art Triangle drawn by the Thyssen, Reina Sofía, and Prado museums. Over the past two decades, an increasing number of artistic institutions have set up shop in this area; so much so that today it's known as Madrid DF, holding the record for the highest gallery density in the capital.
If you're staying in the ciry, we know the perfect hotel to stay and discover this cultural oasis: Radisson RED Madrid, located right at the beginning of Doctor Fourquet Street. Here, you can also find unique art installations and an atmosphere designed to immerse you in the most inspiring part of the capital. Want to know which galleries in this area are participating in ARCO 2024 and can be discovered absolutely free? Join us on this Art Route where we’ll reveal the must-visit names for your next trip.
Not everyone can boast of leading the most artistic street in Madrid. Maisterravalbuena, a gallery inaugurated at number 1 Doctor Fourquet, certainly can. This space, founded in 2007 - and now located at number 6 - sprawls over 160 square meters from which its founders, Pedro Maisterra and Belén Valbuena, shine a spotlight on various national and international artistic projects. A gem indeed.
A conceptual, formal, or sociopolitical basis is what binds together the diverse disciplines of works that have passed through this space since 2011. Located at Doctor Fourquet 4, it divides its focus between the representation of Spanish contemporary art and the introdution of works from around the globe within its international program. The Goma is a prime spot for discovering emerging artists, and its walls have showcased figures like Ernesto Burgos, Javier Arce, Ana Santos, and Cristina Garrido, among others.
Discovering the extensive and exquisite collection of Helga de Alvear is a real privilege. In her space at Doctor Fourquet, 12, open since 1995, you can enjoy some of her acquisitions, with a special focus on photography, video, and installations, as well as various conceptual languages. A passionate compilation that positions this collector as one of the key figures in patronage in Spain. Don't miss it.
The project of Mira Bernabeu is undoubtedly one of the most personal that can be found in the area. Located at number 16 of Argumosa Street, 1 Mira Madrid bases its selection on radical proposals, with a special focus on Eastern Europe and Latin America, while leaving space for national creation. Feminist art, socio-political, and open to debate, that you will love if you are looking to go home with your mind open to new realities.
This gallery is one of the pioneers in the area and could be considered a historical reference in the dynamization of art in Spain. It began its activity in Murcia in 1992 and moved to the capital in 2000, specifically to Doctor Fourquet Street, 17, paving the way for what would later become one of Madrid's most artistic zones. Without a doubt, a must-visit pilgrimage site for every contemporary art lover within and outside the city.
This important Cantabrian gallery, active since 1988, opened its headquarters in Madrid in 2020. An impressive 260-square-meter space at Doctor Fourquet, 20 (Centro), that intermingles exhibitions of established artists and new promises under the premise of the avant-garde, in a family project of three generations where a broad and expert vision rules, finding quality in the eclectic.
If you've strolled down Doctor Fourquet, you've likely noticed the front of the Moisés Pérez de Albéniz gallery at number 20, which transforms its appearance with each new exhibition. Stepping inside, and since 2013, you can find a space that presents the vision of artists from the United States, Europe, and Latin America, invigorating their international careers in an effort that extends far beyond its walls.
In the middle of 2014, following their departure from Fúcares, Paloma González and Enrique Tejerizo opened this exhibition space at Doctor Fourquet, 28 (Centro). It's the perfect place to discover solid projects engaging with new creators, featuring cross-cutting approaches in generation, origin, and even interaction with the public, who are encouraged to participate through various initiatives.
Pati Lara, founder and director of this artistic project, began her gallery adventure in London in 2015. In 2019, she made two decisions: to open a branch in Spain and to explore a format beyond the traditional gallery. The result is The RYDER (number 13 of Miguel Servet Street), set in an old stable in Lavapiés, which now offers space, with Rafa Barber as the permanent curator, for interdisciplinary practices, performance, acting, and numerous artistic proposals from around the globe.
The Madrid branch of this gallery, originally opened in Valencia in 2003, joined the capital's offerings in 2021, carrying its mission to support contemporary visual art with a special focus on sculpture, conceptual art, and various installations. All just a step away from the heart of Madrid DF (11 San Cosme y San Damián Street).
Believe it or not, there are spaces beyond galleries that hold their own super top exhibitions in connection with ARCO. In the vicinity of Doctor Fourquet Street (Atocha Street, 123), Radisson RED Madrid showcases, only until March 31st, the work of two nationally acclaimed artists with global significance: Daniel Canogar and Diana Larrea.
This article delves deeper into this installation, but here's a sneak peek: you can enjoy art in the capital while sipping a coffee or a cocktail at their spectacular bar, Oso Rojo; or wrap up this intense art route with a dinner that meets the mark at Eneko Basque, the in-house restaurant conceptualized by the Michelin-starred chef Eneko Atxa. Art for hours on end!