From Thursday 29 May to Sunday 1 June 2025, the Palacio de Congresos del Pueblo Español in Palma (Mallorca) will host the first edition of SUMMA Mallorca Contemporary Art Fair, a new international event aiming to revolutionise the art market with a fresh, innovative approach focused on emerging talent. Under the artistic direction of Óscar García García and with a carefully curated international section by Jordi Pallarès, SUMMA Mallorca seeks to do much more than showcase artworks. The fair aims to foster meaningful dialogue between galleries, artists and collectors, while positioning Palma as a key cultural hub in the Mediterranean. A fair with a vision Unlike traditional art fairs, SUMMA Mallorca is built around a bold and selective format. A total of 28 local, national and international galleries have been invited to take part in solo projects, each offering a unique perspective on the current contemporary art landscape. The goal is to attract a new generation of collectors—curious, engaged, and keen to explore art that reflects our times. Beyond commercial aims, the fair sets out to build bridges between geographies and generations, providing a platform for emerging and mid-career artists. SUMMA Mallorca aspires to be a transformative experience for visitors—an immersive encounter with contemporary creativity in all its forms. Much more than an art fair SUMMA Mallorca is also a cultural platform in its own right. The fair’s parallel programme includes talks, round tables, guided visits, artist presentations, acquisition awards and residency grants. Art interventions and live music will further animate the venue, integrating art into Palma’s vibrant cultural scene. The initiative is backed by seasoned event organisers such as Art Fairs, Aluz, and Too Many Friends, the creative forces behind well-known projects like JUSTMAD (Madrid), MadridFoto, JUSTMADMIA (Miami) and JUSTLX (Lisbon). Their mission is to create innovative, inclusive spaces where artistic ecosystems can thrive. Highlights: urban realism, personal poetics and global dialogue Among the standout projects this year is a collaboration between 4Leaf and 95gallery, two spaces that bring together the urban pulse of street art and the vision of an emerging artist agency. Together, they present the powerful work of Sfhir, one of Spain’s most distinctive urban artists. Known for his obsessive technical precision and hyperrealistic style, Sfhir creates large-format murals and mixed media pieces that dissect contemporary society with irony and intensity. Some of the pieces on show include: Caballero rosa (acrylic on plasterboard, 2025) Se busca por arte ilegal desde 1995 (spray and acrylic on wood panel, 2024) Untitled (mixed media, 2025) This electrifying proposal is aimed at viewers looking for strong visual impact and critical reflection—urban art with an edge. Social transformation through art One of the most anticipated events of the fair is the round table “What burns and cannot be erased: body, desire and other uncomfortable truths”, organised by Fundación Nadine and featuring artist Ela Fidalgo, selected as one of the fair’s key participants. The session will take place on Saturday 31 May at 18:00 at the Palacio de Congresos, and admission is free. With contributions from Evelyn Joyce (Fundación Nadine), the discussion will explore how art, the body and desire can become tools for social transformation—highlighting one of the fair’s central themes: the power of contemporary art to provoke, reflect and inspire change. From Dali to Madrid, a poetic thread Another notable participant is HopefullyArt, a Madrid-based international project led by Esperanza Belda, dedicated to promoting and supporting contemporary art with an emphasis on emotional connection and thoughtful curation. At SUMMA Mallorca, the gallery will present the work of Xiguan Lei (Dali, China, 1994), a sculptor, painter and poet whose pieces reflect on the interplay between body, spirit and environment. His installations and sculptures, characterised by organic forms and philosophical depth, are inspired by both Chinese artistic traditions and contemporary thought. Highlights include works such as Grass Shoots, New Design, and Rain Whispers—invitations to introspection and sensory experience. Palma Beach: quality, sustainability and culture The fair’s collaborative spirit also extends to the local business community. Palma Beach, a platform created by local entrepreneurs, brings together hospitality, gastronomy, wellness and lifestyle initiatives along Playa de Palma. Through partnerships like SUMMA Mallorca, it promotes sustainable enjoyment, cultural enrichment and excellence in service. Connecting continents: art across the Atlantic Rounding off the programme, on Friday 30 May at 18:00, the fair will host a talk titled “On the artistic projection of Latin America on both sides of the Atlantic”, offering a unique opportunity to reflect on transatlantic ties, influences and opportunities for Latin American creators in the global art world. A collective effort SUMMA Mallorca is made possible thanks to the support of the Ajuntament de Palma, whose commitment to contemporary culture plays a vital role in turning the city into an international cultural reference. With its backing, the fair opens up new opportunities for galleries and artists, while making art accessible to a wider public. In a time of change and reinvention, SUMMA Mallorca invites us to look, to listen and to engage. Not just with art, but with each other. And that, in the end, is the essence of creativity. Stay tuned with Euro Weekly News for the latest news about Europe and Mallorca.