The art fair season in New York kicks off today. If you are planning on joining the art fair circuit, this is my guide for you to make the most of it.
The Established High Flyers
ADAA: The Art Show
Park Avenue Armory, 1-5 March
Organised annually by the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA), The Art Show presents 72 art dealers in an intimate setting. The selection offers art from the 19th century to contemporary works, focused on solo-artist and original presentations.
The Armory Show
Piers 92 and 94, 2-5 March
With 209 galleries, this is the big mammoth to tackle. The fair breaks from the divide that previously characterised its layout on Piers 92 and 94 between Modern and Contemporary. Instead, a new sector Insights will show focused presentations of artworks before 2000 and the new Platform initiative, will dot large-scale and site-specific pieces throughout the venue. I look forward to the promise by Studio Drift to make a huge concrete block levitate, Drifter, presented by Pace Gallery.
The Curated
NADA
Skylight Clarkson North, 2-5 March
As a non-profit art fair, NADA is sponsored by the New Art Dealers Alliance. Since its inception in 2012, it has always coincided with Frieze New York, in May. This year, however, the fair is taking place in March and expanding up to 100 galleries. The focus remains on an eclectic mix of exhibitors including young, mid-career and long-running galleries. I’d say this is the more politically engaged event and for this edition, the fair has declared that half of the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the American Civil Liberties Union, which has defended free speech and immigrants’ rights in 2017.
Independent
Spring Studios, 2-5 March
NADA’s move to March could test Independent, which in the past has drawn from a similar pool of galleries. However, with Independent’s expansion into Brussels last year and a venue upgrade from Chelsea to Tribeca, the fair may be able to gather a distinct identity. Independent engages with the up-and-coming as well as established institutionally and critically celebrated artists. A must.
The Discovery
Volta NY
Pier 90, 1-5 March
Celebrating its 10th Year anniversary in New York, this is actually an established fair within its operating in the fringes. Over the years, the fair has settled on a solo-project booth format. Exhibitors do not just include galleries, some are artist-run spaces that would be rejected by other fairs otherwise. This will give a strong international flair to the 96 exhibitors.
Spring/Break
4 Times Square, 1-6 March
Driven by a curatorial selection and a more casual approach to exhibiting and sales. Founders Ambre Kelly and Andrew Gori have invited more than 150 curators to select 300 artists. This year’s theme, Black Mirror, explores visual manipulations of self-representation and aims to exhibit “autobiographical artworks that engage, defy or uphold the idea that art should hide the artist”. The fair website even includes a “Required Reading (kinda)” list. Sounds to me like the cool kids in the block.
