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Mexico City's largest art fair, ZONA MACO, just wrapped its 21st edition, which ran from February 5-9, 2025. Celebrated at the sprawling Centro Citibanamex in western Mexico City, 220 galleries from 30 countries gathered for the incredible event. My Modern Met also attended ZONA MACO 2025, browsing the work of both established and emerging creators—a vibrant mixture that has long made ZONA MACO the biggest event of Mexico City Art Week.

ZONA MACO 2025 was divided into four sections—contemporary art, photography, design, and antiques. Contemporary art, the largest of them all, saw an eclectic mix of mediums, from sculptures to installations. However, painting seems to reign above them all, prompting creatives to experiment with a wide array of themes and techniques, from traditional oils and acrylics to more daring options such as beewax and seeds, like the work of Brazilian artist Daniela Busarello.

The fair also doubled as a crash course on the history of recent Latin American art, as galleries featured the work of some of its most well-known figures. ZONA MACO 2025 included a sizable assortment of paintings by Colombian artist Fernando Botero and Ecuadorian painter Oswaldo Guayasamín, two of the top creatives from the latter part of the 20th century. On the Mexican side of things, artworks by Gabriel Orozco were showcased at the fair, lining up with his recently opened exhibit at Museo Jumex.

Among the most arguably compelling work showcased at ZONA MACO this year was that of Ana Hernández. The creator, who hails from Oaxaca, in southern Mexico, presented La Manda, a stunning tribute to the languages spoken in this region. The piece is made up of two metal spirals holding 68 candles that hang from their wicks. Decorated with snails to represent the spoken word, this manda—a prayer with an offering—sees the artist plea for the permanence and survival of these centuries-old languages.

Meanwhile, Italian creative Michela Martello brought one of the most hypnotic pieces of all to ZONA MACO. What makes it particularly captivating is that its charm can only be experienced inside the work. The Heavenly Princesses is a pink-hued textile maze that depicts a voyage from chaos to the peace of the womb, spotlighting feminine deities from different cultures throughout the journey. Contrasting with the calm of Martello's work and giving a voice to an urgent topic was Vanessa Baird's encompassing installation, Lost Humanity. One Way Ticket to Mars. This piece captures the horrors of the Palestinian genocide in towering paper panels with charcoal and pastels.

To see even more of what we saw at ZONA MACO 2025, as well as all of the other exciting events that make up Mexico City Art Week, check out the videos at the bottom of this article and stay tuned for even more by following My Modern Met on Instagram.

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