Qatar Museums, in collaboration with the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (Malba), has inaugurated LATINOAMERICANO | Modern and Contemporary Art from Malba and Eduardo Costantini Collections at the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ). This marks the first significant exhibition in the WANA region dedicated to modern and contemporary art from Latin America.
On display from 21 April to 19 July 2025, the extensive presentation facilitates a cultural exchange between Qatar and Latin America and serves as a central component of the Qatar Argentina and Chile 2025 Year of Culture, a national initiative focused on building connections through long-term cultural partnerships based on mutual understanding. The year's program also includes performances, exhibitions, sporting and culinary events, photography projects, residency schemes, and volunteer trips.
The exhibition's opening was attended by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, and Teresa Bulgheroni, President of the Malba Foundation, among other dignitaries, underscoring the commitment to presenting diverse artistic perspectives in Qatar.
LATINOAMERICANO encompasses approximately 170 works by over 100 artists from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela. The exhibition provides a broad survey of Latin American visual culture from the early 20th century to the present, illustrating how artists have responded to, challenged, and reshaped social, political, and cultural realities through their art.
Co-curated by Issa Al Shirawi of Qatar Museums and María Amalia García of Malba, the exhibition is structured into six thematic sections addressing artistic responses to urbanization, identity, memory, and resistance. This organization offers a nuanced understanding of the shared yet diverse experiences that inform the region’s visual language.
Visitors to LATINOAMERICANO will encounter notable works such as Frida Kahlo’s Autorretrato con chango y loro (1942), Diego Rivera’s Baile en Tehuantepec (1928), Fernando Botero’s El viudo (1968), and Wifredo Lam’s Omi Obini (1943), alongside other significant pieces. These are presented with lesser-known works and contemporary artists, including recent acquisitions from Malba making their public debut, as well as important pieces from Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art and the future Art Mill Museum. This combination aims to provide a comprehensive view of artistic developments.
Extending to the National Museum of Qatar's outdoor spaces, Marta Minujín’s large-scale inflatable installation, Sculpture of Dreams (2023), offers a sensory representation of the imaginative qualities present in Latin American art.
By presenting both established and emerging artists, LATINOAMERICANO aims to introduce audiences in Qatar and the wider region to a significant artistic heritage that has been influential yet sometimes underrepresented in global narratives. The exhibition seeks to bridge cultural distances and foster mutual understanding and artistic appreciation between Latin America and the Arab world.
LATINOAMERICANO is a part of the Spring/Summer 2025 Season of Qatar Creates, a platform dedicated to promoting cultural activities within the country.
A public program will accompany the exhibition, featuring lectures, guided tours, workshops, and community activities designed to encourage dialogue, exchange, and broad engagement with the presented works.
