AcquisitionFebruary 6, 2026
The Museo de Arte Latinoamericano in Buenos Aires has acquired the Daros Latinamerica Collection
A few months ago, Eduardo F. Costantini was offered the chance to buy the Daros Latinamerica Collection and accepted right away. For the founder of Malba, adding one of the most important Latin American art collections is both a personal milestone and a great way to mark the museum’s 25th anniversary, scheduled for September 21, 2026. Malba was already known internationally for its modern and contemporary art from the region, but this acquisition from Zurich makes its influence even stronger. The collection will add about 3,000 works and is important both for its size and its historical and artistic value.
“My greatest ambition is never to stop; an institution must always be growing,” says Costantini. This purchase is part of a larger plan to expand Malba, which has already received approval to grow its building under Plaza Perú, across from the museum. The project will double the museum’s space to about 8,000 square meters and add a new program focused on design and textile art. The Daros Latinamerica Collection brings in 1,233 works, mostly made between the 1950s and 2010, and for the first time, Malba will show works by 75 important Latin American artists. It also supports areas such as photography, video, and installation art, featuring well-known artists such as Alfredo Jaar, Ana Mendieta, and Paz Errázuriz. The collection expands the museum’s reach by including more works from countries such as Colombia and Cuba, as well as pieces from Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.
Even though this is a big undertaking, the museum team is enthusiastic about the integration because it will have a positive impact on both curatorial work and the institution as a whole.
To celebrate the anniversary, Malba’s second floor will be dedicated to contemporary art from its permanent collection and will showcase some of the most important works from the Daros Collection.
Costantini says the public will be able to see important works by artists like Hélio Oiticica, Antonio Dias, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Jesús Rafael Soto, Doris Salcedo, a major painting by Lygia Clark, and an installation by Cildo Meireles. He notes that bringing in a complete collection changes the museum’s operations, from planning exhibitions to archiving, curating, and lending works. One of the main projects for the anniversary is also to reissue a catalog about the Costantini collection, which will be updated to include the new works.
Costantini points out that Malba is going through an exciting time, shown by the addition of key works, more loans, and a steady rise in visitors—about 500,000 each year in Buenos Aires and another 250,000 at Malba Puertos, which opened in 2024. Still, he is open about the challenges of maintaining stable funding in the current economy, especially given the expected $20 million cost of future building expansion. His main focus now is to strengthen the museum’s foundation, make sure it is financially secure, and continue to improve its management so Malba will be strong and ready for the future.
“My greatest ambition is never to stop; an institution must always be growing,” says Costantini. This purchase is part of a larger plan to expand Malba, which has already received approval to grow its building under Plaza Perú, across from the museum. The project will double the museum’s space to about 8,000 square meters and add a new program focused on design and textile art. The Daros Latinamerica Collection brings in 1,233 works, mostly made between the 1950s and 2010, and for the first time, Malba will show works by 75 important Latin American artists. It also supports areas such as photography, video, and installation art, featuring well-known artists such as Alfredo Jaar, Ana Mendieta, and Paz Errázuriz. The collection expands the museum’s reach by including more works from countries such as Colombia and Cuba, as well as pieces from Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.
Even though this is a big undertaking, the museum team is enthusiastic about the integration because it will have a positive impact on both curatorial work and the institution as a whole.
To celebrate the anniversary, Malba’s second floor will be dedicated to contemporary art from its permanent collection and will showcase some of the most important works from the Daros Collection.
Costantini says the public will be able to see important works by artists like Hélio Oiticica, Antonio Dias, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Jesús Rafael Soto, Doris Salcedo, a major painting by Lygia Clark, and an installation by Cildo Meireles. He notes that bringing in a complete collection changes the museum’s operations, from planning exhibitions to archiving, curating, and lending works. One of the main projects for the anniversary is also to reissue a catalog about the Costantini collection, which will be updated to include the new works.
Costantini points out that Malba is going through an exciting time, shown by the addition of key works, more loans, and a steady rise in visitors—about 500,000 each year in Buenos Aires and another 250,000 at Malba Puertos, which opened in 2024. Still, he is open about the challenges of maintaining stable funding in the current economy, especially given the expected $20 million cost of future building expansion. His main focus now is to strengthen the museum’s foundation, make sure it is financially secure, and continue to improve its management so Malba will be strong and ready for the future.
