Tonight, the narrow streets of the old town are buzzing with art lovers. It’s Nit de l’Art 2023 in Palma. Galleries and museums open the doors and invite the public to their latest exhibitions of contemporary art. The annual event attracts an excited crowd strolling from venue to venue, curious to meet other regulars, like-minded people, and artists present.

At the end of summer the Nit de l’Art 2023 marks the beginning of new exhibitions. And it is considered the highlight of the art year on Mallorca that starts with the Art Palma Brunch, followed by the Art Palma Summer and concluded with the Gallery Night. As with many things the senses are sharpened when the sun set and the light focuses.

At Gallery Baró Susy Gomez is introducing a series of large formats revolving around the question of self and nature, of art and life. Inês Zenha presented her first solo show at Galeria Pelaires. Her sensuous entwined bodies in bold reds or blues tell about the transformation of anger into acts of love and resistance. 

Andi Fischer’s big black birds at gallery Kewenig look rather cheerful on first sight, the way they drop down head over heel. And the exhibitions at ABA Art Lab, Fran Reus, Pep Llabres and Xavier Fiol also draw large audiences. At Casal Solleric people were even queuing to get in. And wherever you go tonight, there are parties and receptions, music, dance, and live performances. 

The Nit de l’Art began almost three decades ago as a small event hosted by APC, Palma’s Association of Contemporary Art Galleries. Little by little, other cultural institutions, museums and galleries joined in. Also from outside, such as CCA Andratx and Galeria Maior from Pollença, now showing excerpts of their exhibitions at the cultural center La Misericordia.

If you couldn’t make it to Palma tonight, you can still visit most exhibitions since they run for at least a few more weeks. Or you subscribe to one of the organized gallery walks offered by APC in Castellan, Catalan and English.