At approximately one o’clock in the morning, we arrived in Mexico City for the Zona Maco Art Fair, the most significant art fair in Latin America. The fair attracts globally notable artists, collectors, curators, and professionals in the art business.

The trek was rough, but the destination made it all worthwhile. The Customs lines were jarring, and our luggage had to be recovered. Despite the logistical nightmares, we found a taqueria around the corner from the apartment that served food until 3 am. District artist Olivia Persons said, “These are the best tacos I’ve ever had!”

Another DC native, Stephen Baiyewu, said, “Mexico City is the best city in North America. If you want an incredible experience, the dollar does wonders here.” There’s no contention on this point. Mexico City’s capacity to deliver is unmatched. The current of energy that runs through the city, from its wondrous architecture to its incredible culinary experiences and culture, creates this ambiance. The fair is a massive boon for tourism in Mexico City. International collectors and art enthusiasts descend on the city, enjoying its rich culture and history, restaurants, and brilliant accommodations. 

I was intrigued by the presence of ROFA Projects. Beginning in Potomac, Maryland, the ten-year-old gallery was founded by Gabriela Rosso. Venezuelan-born Rosso said she knew no one when she came to the United States. 

ROFA Projects deals in political speech, mainly focusing on women’s rights and feminism, as well as Latinx-diaspora issues. When asked about her gallery, she explained that she loves when it’s described as “edgy.” Rosso also acknowledged that her collectors primarily come from outside the DC metro area: 

“We work directly with a mix of private collectors and their art advisors. We mainly come to Zona Maco because it allows our gallery to connect with institutional decision-makers, such as curators, museum professionals, and others.” 

While the gallery makes most of its sales with international clients, its focus is on broadening its community base. Thus, ROFA eagerly announced the opening of its new Gaithersburg, Maryland location.

Another staple at the Fair was internationally renowned Baltimore artist Jerrell Gibbs, and artist, Jeffrey Kent. Gibbs shows with the Mariane Ibrahim Gallery, which just opened a new location in Mexico City. When asked if he had works on display at the fair, Gibbs replied, “This year, I’m just enjoying as an artist. No pressure. I’m in a group show at the [Mariane Ibrahim] Gallery’s new space.” Kent echoed these sentiments and was recently spotted in the District co-hosting an art talk at the Rubell Collection’s DC Museum. The discussion was hosted in collaboration with Bmore Art and founder Mira Rubell, for Washington, D.C.-based artist Sylvia Snowden.

Lastly, we stopped by the booth of Big Medium, an Austin, Texas-based art non-profit, to view the works of native Washingtonian Xavier Schipani. Schipani, like Gibbs and Kent, got his start at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). He now shows internationally, focusing on the Queer identity and an abstraction of the body. While the works drift between figurative and abstraction, he is an incredibly accomplished and groundbreaking artist. In the past year, he has achieved public artwork in Houston’s airport, which is no small feat. Further, his SB Dunk Nike collaboration sold out in hours. Certainly, looking forward to following this young artist as he pushes boundaries and thrives.

Mexico City is a terrific place to live and work as an artist. Many internationally acclaimed artists like Dario Calmese and Lina Iris Viktor have split time between their home cities and Mexico City. At Galeria OMR’s opening party for the Desert Flood exhibition, I spoke with Clara Chapus, a young architect who’d immigrated from Paris. Her story of migrating to Mexico City after being inspired by the culture, art, and architecture was very familiar. The low cost of living, the abundance of culture, and accessibility make Mexico City a no-brainer for creative professionals seeking its inspirational pulse. You won’t regret your experience at Zona Maco! Should you have an opportunity to visit Mexico City, please be sure to do so in February.

If you’d like to learn more, please visit our Instagram at @balmore_art for exclusive video journalism and recaps of the Fair. 

Photos by Olivia L. Persons