A possible map of the seven best galleries throughout Argentina

In recent years, and in line with a global trend , the art scenes of Argentina's provinces have solidified their own identity , consolidating through a growing number of galleries committed to strengthening their roots in their own territories. These spaces not only serve as platforms for growth and visibility for local artists, but also enhance the cultural and conceptual value of their regions of origin, without isolating themselves from global trends.

From Patagonia to the North , and from Rosario to Santiago del Estero, the galleries create a personal cartography of contemporary art beyond the major urban centers, redefining their place on the national and international scene.

This effervescence is closely linked to the post-pandemic scenario , in which territories far from capital cities took center stage like never before, opening up space for untold stories and practices that had been left aside .

New venues became cultural epicenters, multiplying the emergence of contemporary art fairs—in Córdoba (MAC), Santa Fe (Microferia de Rosario), and Chaco (a.362) —expanding circulation and professionalization circuits . Initiatives such as Conexión arteba, the program launched by the traditional Buenos Aires fair in San Juan and Mendoza, were even added. It aimed at strengthening regional art scenes, with invited figures such as Ferran Barenblit, José Roca, and Cuauhtemoc Medina.

Below is a federal map of Argentine galleries and the highlights of each:

Founded in 2019 by Pamela González, Fulana became the first contemporary art gallery in Tafí Viejo , a city near San Miguel de Tucumán. “There wasn't a space dedicated to the sale and exhibition of contemporary art,” says its founder. The symbolic and financial support of the municipality provided the initial impetus for a project that aims to consolidate a federal art scene that allows artists to grow professionally without having to relocate to Buenos Aires.

The artistic production of Tafí Viejo, González emphasizes, is distinguished by a "strong connection with local identity and regional culture," where artists work with materials and themes steeped in community history. "Generally, the works tend to be more intimate and personal, engaging with tradition even through contemporary languages," he summarizes.

In a chorizo ​​house in downtown Resistencia , Chorizo ​​Art Gallery found its identity as a platform for emerging artists from Chaco and Corrientes. Founded in 2021 by Emmanuel Barrios, the gallery was born out of a dual desire: “I needed to do more personalized work with each artist and also promote my own production,” says its founder. Since then, the space has become an active hub for solo and group exhibitions, student curatorships, book presentations, and participation in national fairs.

The artistic production in Chaco—reflected in the works Chorizo ​​exhibits— connects memory and territory : “We see lapachos, animals, factories that no longer exist, walks with grandma through remote villages, and even the heat so characteristic of the region,” Barrios describes. Thus, from a contemporary perspective, the artists update traditions and landscapes, tracing an emotional map of northern Argentina.

At the heart of the popular La Banda fair in Santiago del Estero , Mantera Galería traces a unique intersection between contemporary art, social practices, and the popular economy. Founded in 2017 by artist and project manager María Rocha, the project occupies a stand right in the middle of the fair, embracing its identity between the urban and the rural. “Our gallery didn't just burst onto the scene; it named itself and inscribed itself as an art gallery in a fair context, creating new epistemic, aesthetic, and affective networks,” Rocha emphasizes, in a bid to expand access to contemporary art and explore new forms of circulation.

Artists from Santiago del Estero, Tucumán, Córdoba, and Neuquén make up the staff of this gallery, which challenges traditional market modes, activating a dynamic of collaboration and cultural resistance. For Rocha, artistic production in Santiago del Estero—and more broadly in the Norte Grande—is marked by a vital syncretism: “Heat, siesta, and celebration” permeate the forms of creation.

Founded in 2012, Diego Obligado Galería has established itself as a key player in the resurgence of the art market in Rosario , in addition to promoting the creation of Giro, the Santa Fe Chamber of Art Galleries. “We have slowly been rebuilding the network of galleries and the local market, which is the support that allows us to exist,” explains Diego Obligado.

The current president of Meridiano, Obligado works to raise awareness of art spaces across the country through projects such as Panorama and Nodo. ​​“I deeply believe that our identity lies in our diversity,” he affirms. “As a chamber, we seek to provide tools to level the playing field and professionalize the sector, ensuring that each region can showcase its artistic wealth from its own perspective.”

Located in the strategic cultural hub of Rosario (Santa Fe), Subsuelo is a gallery that combines three temporary exhibition halls and a retail space, featuring works by modern and contemporary artists from central Argentina. “We're always on the lookout for art on the fringes, that isn't mainstream, that expresses a genuine and original vision,” says Daniel Pagano, one of its directors.

The gallery was founded in 2017 as a platform to support both emerging and established artists , and with the aim of establishing a dialogue between the past and the present, in a city where a creative community is constantly evolving.

Between mountains, lakes, and forests , TDT Galería is opening up as a haven for contemporary creative practices in Bariloche . Directed by Bar Visconti and Pilu Danegger, this “small gallery in southern Argentina” emerged almost intuitively in 2022, as a natural extension of the Tribu de Trueno residency project.

“The focus quickly shifted to local art: hosting it, making it visible, and motivating it,” explain its directors, who promote the space through self-management, proximity, and emotional networks. In a city where the cultural scene often revolves around tourism, TDT proposes building a network designed for those who live in the area year-round.

Artistic production in Bariloche, they explain, is inevitably influenced by the natural and social environment : long winters, vast distances, and a heterogeneous cultural fabric shaped by migration and tourism. "The context seeps into our productions, beyond each individual's perspective," they affirm, emphasizing how the Patagonian territory imprints a particular rhythm, sensitivity, and constant challenge on local artistic creation.

Located in a century-old building in the historic center of Córdoba , María Wonda Galería focuses on supporting emerging and mid-career artists, establishing itself as a benchmark in the local scene since its opening in 2012. “The gallery was born with the vision of fostering cultural dialogue in Córdoba , a city with a rich artistic tradition, but which required a space more committed to innovation and aesthetic diversity,” says its founder, María Wonda.

The project's evolution is reflected in the creation of Distrito Wonda, which will open in June 2024 on the northern outskirts of the city. This new space aims to "generate definitive changes and opportunities in times of crisis," explains its founder.