At the Maastricht Exhibition & Conference Centre (MECC), the atmosphere has been buzzing with excitement for days in anticipation of the 37th edition of TEFAF Maastricht opening its doors. Following the customary vetting, a cornerstone of the event's success, expectations have finally been met: today and tomorrow, the art fair is open for preview, and from March 9th to 14th, it will be accessible to the general public from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. With 270 exhibitors from 22 nations, TEFAF is once again set to transform the exhibition center in the Netherlands into a global stage for art and culture, showcasing paintings, sculptures, furniture, jewelry, photography, design, and rare books.







In short, it offers a comprehensive panorama of human creativity, making the fair one of the most prestigious events worldwide: a true journey through time spanning 7000 years of history. Out of the 270 participants in 2024, eighteen are newcomers, some featured in the TEFAF Showcase section, which since 2008 has provided emerging galleries with the opportunity to gain exposure to a wide audience. One of the most anticipated novelties of 2024 is TEFAF Focus, a segment designed to delve deeper into the work of individual artists or concepts, opening new horizons in the interpretation of art. Scheduled events such as TEFAF Talks, TEFAF Summit, and TEFAF Meet the Experts further enrich visitors' experience through interaction with industry professionals.
As every year, the Italian presence at the fair is excellent: from Brun Fine Art, which not only presents exquisite works but also a catalog containing an in-depth study on Tommaso di Credi curated by Davide Civettini ("Tommaso: Lorenzo di Credi’s doppelgänger"), to Tommaso Calabro making his debut in the Showcase section focusing on Surrealism on the occasion of the movement's manifesto centenary. The selection of exhibited works includes pieces on paper and paintings by Leonor Fini, Stanislao Lepri, and Fabrizio Clerici. Furthermore, among the 20 exhibitors from Italy in Maastricht, Alessandra Di Castro stands out, representing the TEFAF executive board and vice president of the Association of Italian Antique Dealers. The booth, centered on the theme "Transcending Boundaries," showcases works by Fra' Damiano Zambelli, the marble portrait of Princess Martha Bibescu, and busts sculpted by Raimondo Trentanove. Attention is drawn to the oil on canvas depicting San Sebastiano from Maurizio Nobile, while Matteo Salamon presents a selection of Italian masterpieces from the late 13th to the 20th century, including a tempera on wood from the 15th century by the Master of the Legend of Apollo and Daphne. Lastly, Antonacci Lapiccirella focuses on the Roman and divisionist period of Umberto Boccioni with the pastel "Portrait of a Young Man" (1905).







But what is the origin of this globally esteemed event?

TEFAF is a non-profit organization committed to promoting and supporting the diversity and multifaceted nature of the global artistic community through two events held in Maastricht and New York. The latter, established in 2016, initially comprised two separate events: TEFAF New York Fall and TEFAF New York Spring, hosted at the Park Avenue Armory. Today, there is a single annual rendezvous that combines modern and contemporary art, jewelry, antiques, and design, with the participation of around 90 global galleries.
As mentioned earlier, over 200 experts, including curators, museum directors, academics, and conservators, along with a team of scientific analysts and the Art Loss Register, form the 30 committees tasked with meticulously evaluating the quality, condition, and authenticity of each artwork at the fairs. Thus, since its inception, TEFAF has become a reference point for the academic world as well. In 2012, the board established the Museum Restoration Fund, aimed at supporting and promoting the professional conservation of artworks belonging to museum collections. Every year, TEFAF allocates €50,000 to finance two restoration projects, acknowledging the support offered by the hundreds of museums and institutions that regularly participate in its fairs.
In short, the art fair, as always, proves to be more than just an artistic event: it is a true immersive experience that transports lovers of beauty into a world of endless beauty and inspiration.