An image can change the way we see
There are photographs that transport us to places we have never been. Others bring back memories, reveal unfamiliar realities, or turn an everyday scene into something entirely different.
At times, the most compelling aspect of an image is not what it depicts, but the questions it leaves unanswered.
That universe of possibilities comes together once again at Pinta BAphoto, the photography-specialized fair celebrating its 22nd edition in Buenos Aires.
From October 23 to 25, Pavilion 8 at La Rural will bring together artists, galleries, curators, and visitors eager to discover the many forms an image can take. The 2026 edition will feature 57 participating galleries and spaces from Argentina, Uruguay, Spain, the United States, Paraguay, and Brazil.
Much more than photographs on a wall
Contemporary photography is no longer confined to capturing a single moment.
It can be built from archives, intervened, combined with other artistic mediums, transformed into installations, or delve into the possibilities of motion and emerging formats.
At Pinta BAphoto, these explorations coexist alongside modern works and creations by artists across multiple generations.
The Main Section, curated by Irene Gelfman, brings together national and international galleries presenting distinct approaches to the photographic medium.
Yet the journey does not stop there. Each section offers a different way to engage with images, their underlying processes, and the stories they can tell.
A dedicated space for fresh perspectives
One of the most engaging sectors for discovering artists is NEXT, dedicated to emerging proposals and experimental ways of working with photography.
Curated by Facundo Belén and Virginia Martín, it gathers projects exploring the present through varied experiences and sensibilities.
Meanwhile, RADAR, curated by Mercedes Claus, offers a perspective on the relationships between image, identity, and space. The artworks question the assumption that a photograph always portrays reality in a direct, transparent manner.
Both spaces reveal that taking photographs can also be a way to investigate, interpret, and construct new narratives.
Stories that deserve a second look
The 2026 edition pays a special tribute to Panamanian photographer Sandra Eleta and presents projects linked to key figures in Argentine photography.
Among them is 2001MDQ2026, dedicated to Alberto Goldenstein, which brings archival images into dialogue with recent productions.
Also featured is Alexander – Alexander, a project tracing the connection between Abel Alexander and his family history tied to the earliest photographic studios in Buenos Aires.
The program further includes an audiovisual retrospective of Batato Barea along with other proposals connecting photography, memory, performance, and research.
These curated pathways invite us to view images not only as artistic objects, but also as historical records of an era.
When photographs become books
Another featured space is ATLAS, dedicated to the editorial realm.
Curated by Martín Bollati, this section brings together photobooks, experimental publications, and artists' editions that explore new relationships among photography, design, and narrative.
The book ceases to be a mere medium for reproducing images and becomes part of the artwork itself.
The selection highlights how sequencing, paper stock, format, and materiality can transform the way we read a photograph.
A fair to take in without rushing
Pinta BAphoto also offers a program of talks, panels, book launches, and guided tours.
The guided tours offer accessible insight into the artworks, allowing visitors to discover varied techniques and understand the artists' inquiries without requiring prior background knowledge.
In addition, the FORO section hosts conversations focused on contemporary photography, the art market, and art collecting.
The fair can serve as a place to discover an artwork, meet an artist, take a first step into collecting, or simply spend an afternoon surrounded by images.
Buenos Aires: a city to keep exploring
For three days, La Rural becomes a central meeting point for Latin American photography.
At the same time, the experience dialogues with a city home to museums, galleries, independent spaces, and an art scene in constant motion.
In an era where we encounter hundreds of images each day, Pinta BAphoto proposes something distinct: pausing before a select few.
Looking closely. Wondering how they were created. Discovering what they share and what they leave outside the frame.
Because sometimes finding a new image is not what matters most. Learning to look differently is enough.
Keep discovering art, exhibitions, and new cultural offerings in Buenos Aires on MIBSAS.
