From Friday, May 16 to Sunday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Plaza del Sol shopping center will host the 19th edition of the Viva el Arte Fair, a free event that brings together nearly 35 Costa Rican visual artists and designers. The fair offers the public a close-up experience with the creators, allowing them to discover their works, creative processes, and artistic visions.
Over the course of three days, visitors will be able to explore various stands to interact directly with the artists, discover a wide range of techniques such as painting, sculpture, ceramics, glass, printmaking, drawing, digital art, and design objects, and experience contemporary proposals from both established and emerging creators.
The selected artists for this edition include: Adrián Gómez, Alberto Murillo, Alejandra Segovia, Ana Elena Fernández, Beatriz Parra, Bernal Castro, Carlos Rodó, Casa Fage, Fabio Herrera, Fernando Carballo, Francisco Munguía, Gabriela García, Gerald Castro, Gustavo Herrera, Hernán Arévalo, Jiménez & Tanzi, Jorge Crespo, José Vargas, Juan Carlos Camacho, Karen Chavarría, Lina Serrano, Loida Pretiz, Magda Córdoba, Marcia Salas, María Gabriela González, María Teresa Pérez, Mario Maffioli, Rebeca Rodríguez, Rodolfo Stanley, Silas Martínez, Silvia Monge, UPE, Verónica Navarro, and Xochilt Lezama. The curatorship was carried out by a committee of experts led by visual artist Ana Beatriz Sánchez, who ensured diversity of disciplines and styles in the selection process.
“Thanks to the ongoing support of our partners, we’ve been able to present a solid and professional platform since the very first edition, showcasing a rich variety of artistic expressions and invited exhibitions within the fair, while also promoting and highlighting national talent. The careful selection of participants has been key to maintaining the quality that defines this fair, making it a space sought after by both artists and the public, who honor us each year with their presence, enthusiasm, and desire to discover and acquire art,” said Sánchez.
This year’s featured artist is Loida Pretiz, recognized for her work in education, research, and promotion of Costa Rican art. Her work is known for its use of assemblage, a technique in which she transforms found materials—such as old door and window frames—into pieces filled with memory, sensitivity, and symbolism. Her participation will also include the exhibition of works from women’s collectives such as Las Papaturras, Bosquemar, Pintarte, Matrices, and Cantarrias, formed through her community-based work at the Museo Islita, which she directed from 2003 to 2014.
Educated at the University of Costa Rica, Loida has combined her artistic practice with ongoing teaching and research in rural Central American communities. Between 2020 and 2022, she served as Vice Minister of Culture, and has held positions in key institutions such as the Administrative Board of the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design and the National Commission on Intangible Cultural Heritage. She has worked as a curator on projects that integrate art, design, and tradition, and in 2009, she received the Aquileo J. Echeverría National Award in Sculpture.
Flor Gallardo, art historian, highlights in the curatorial text:“Her home-studio is both a place of refuge and a living territory, filled with emotions and feelings that transform into art. Pretiz builds and rebuilds homes from an emotional place, using found woods—sanded, glued, and assembled with meticulous care and soul.”
In addition to the exhibitions, the fair will offer complementary activities such as workshops and artistic performances. The event has maintained an uninterrupted run for 19 years, with editions held at Plaza del Sol and Plaza Mayor, through a rigorous open call process.
The Viva el Arte Fair is made possible thanks to the sponsorship of Grupo Auto Mercado, as part of its commitment to the country’s cultural development.
