That’s a wrap! Another year, another successful SWAB Art Fair under my belt as the gallerist for Abbozzo Gallery. What I love particularly about SWAB is the cultivation of community between gallerists, exhibitors, collectors, curators, and other art enthusiasts. The identity that founder Joaquin Diez-Cascón and director Carolina Diez-Cascón have established for the fair is like no other, and it is the reason I keep coming back. There seems to be a genuine exchange and appreciation between exhibitors, and it fosters opportunities for collaboration. Our allies 200CENT, Casa Espacio, and ourselves, Abbozzo Gallery, found success.

All three of these galleries also collaborated on a SWAB Radio program with Artist Ally, of which we covered the joys of the Barcelona art scene and the immigrant artist experience here. The audio will be released soon on our OFFStudio podcast.

What else do these three galleries have in common? That leads us to our next point…

You are invited to our first Scavenger Hunt this Saturday!

 📅 Date: Saturday, 11 October 2025 

🕑 Time: 14:30H – 17:00H (drinks after) 

📍 Neighbourhoods: Sant Antoni & Raval 

🎟️ Cost: Free 

This will be the first Artist Ally event ever, A Tribe Called Art Quest! Join us for a fun-filled afternoon on a guided "scavenger hunt" of allied art spaces in the Raval and Sant Antoni and engage directly with XAV and Blake from Artist Ally, as well as our awesome allies Casa Espacio, 200CENT, and PrintHouse BCN. Each guest will receive a "passport" to fill out as we complete challenges and activities along the way.

We will walk from space to space and discover two art exhibitions with curator walk-throughs by Juan P and Violeto from Casa Espacio, Kirra from 200CENT, and also learn about printing capabilities, techniques and subscribers discounts from Alan at PrintHouse BCN.

Feel free to hang out afterwards for networking and drinks with fellow "Scavenger Hunters" at the arts & culture bar Noa Noa Café with and mix among art professionals in Barcelona!

Mom, We Were On SWAB Radio! 🎙️

All three of these galleries also collaborated on a Radio SWAB program with Artist Ally, of which we covered the joys of the Barcelona art scene and the immigrant artist experience here. The audio will be released soon on our OFFStudio podcast.

Other Awarding Stuff

200Cent was awarded the Premi Fundacío Úniques to artist Robin Vuitch for her textile artwork Thin Skin (Pell Buida). Fundació Úniques is the foundation that promotes contemporary women artists residing in Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands.

Casa Espacio’s own artist and co-founder, Violeto, had their ceramic sculptures win the Premio José Luis Lorenzo prize, landing the work in a prestigious Latin American contemporary art collection that focuses on Argentinian producers.

Abbozzo Gallery found collectors for five different artworks by emerging artist Jake Santos, including a public collection in Stuttgart, Germany, and private collections in Leuven, Munich, and, of course, Barcelona.

…

As the fair wraps and the lights dim, what stays with us isn’t just the sales or awards. It’s the sense of connection. The conversations between gallerists, artists, and curators who, like us, believe in collaboration over competition.

This energy is exactly what fuels Artist Ally. It’s what we’re carrying forward into our next chapter, from SWAB’s fairgrounds to the streets of Sant Antoni and Raval this weekend.

So, whether you joined us at SWAB or are just discovering our circle now, come walk with us. Join our first-ever Art Quest this Saturday, and be part of the growing network of allies shaping Barcelona’s creative ecosystem.

👉 RSVP here for free

With excitement and inspiration,
- BZ 💜