ZⓈONAMACO FOTO has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of international photographic art in Latin America, offering a dynamic platform where renowned and emerging photographers converge. This year’s edition, held as part of ZONAMACO 2025, once again proved to be a vital meeting point for exploring the photographic medium, blending cutting-edge technological innovations with significant historical milestones. The fair’s discursive exercises—spanning documentary work, collective creation, and interdisciplinary collaborations—reflected the evolving imaginaries of human thought and the surrounding reality. Today we hear from our friend and arts editor Daniela, an avid photography collector, who shares some highlights from her art week visit to Mexico focusing on photography for this post.

Curated by Luis Graham Castillo, ZⓈONAMACO FOTO showcased photographic works, with a special emphasis on dialogues between photography and painting. One standout moment was the presentation by Amsterdam’s Homecoming Gallery, which featured Aldo van den Broek’s paintings alongside Johnny Mae Hauser’s photographs. Other very special highlights for me:

MAAT Gallery brought a stellar lineup of artists including:

• Geoffroy Pithon: Known for his evocative and surreal compositions, Pithon’s work challenges the boundaries of reality and imagination.

• Prince Gyasi: A rising star in contemporary photography, Gyasi’s vibrant, color-saturated images celebrate African culture and identity.

• Delia Hamer: Hamer’s intimate and introspective portraits explore themes of memory, identity, and human connection.

Gallery Almanaque presented a diverse roster of artists including:

• Federica Belli: Belli’s work delves into the interplay between light and shadow, creating hauntingly beautiful compositions.

• Jean François Bouchard: Bouchard’s documentary-style photographs offer a raw and unfiltered look at urban landscapes and human experiences.

• Tyler Goldflower: Goldflower’s experimental approach to photography pushes the boundaries of the medium, incorporating mixed media and digital manipulation.

• Luvia Lazo: Lazo’s work explores themes of migration, identity, and cultural heritage, often through a deeply personal lens.

• Fernanda Roel: Roel’s ethereal landscapes and abstract compositions evoke a sense of timelessness and wonder.

• Dana Salvo: Salvo’s intimate portraits and still lifes capture the quiet beauty of everyday moments.

• Mara Sánchez-Renero: Sánchez-Renero’s work examines the complexities of identity and belonging, often through the lens of Mexican culture.

• Bob Schalkwijk: A veteran of Mexican photography, Schalkwijk’s black-and-white images offer a nostalgic glimpse into the country’s rich history and culture.

For me, one of the most intriguing aspects of ZⓈONAMACO FOTO 2025 was its emphasis on the dialogue between photography and painting. This was exemplified by the works of Daniela Busarello, a Brazilian artist whose innovative use of materials like beewax and seeds added a tactile dimension to her paintings.

Proyectos Monclova also stood out with its eclectic selection, including Eduardo Terrazas’ abstract yarn works and Chantal Peñalosa’s untitled photographic series, which documented the subtle shifts in cloud formations observed while crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. With its commitment to showcasing both established and emerging talent, ZⓈONAMACO FOTO continues to push the boundaries of what photography can achieve!