About This Event
What is an art fair?
Good question! On the most basic level, an art fair is a trade show—i.e. a place for people in the art business, from dealers and art advisors to collectors and curators, to kibbutz and make deals. But fairs are also sumptuous visual emporiums that are open to the public, and exhibitors tend to pepper the events with dazzling, spectacular pieces to delight crowds and capture the imagination of photographers. There's a reason why fairs like the Armory Show and the Art Show call themselves "shows."
Art fairs are crowded and huge and confusing. Do I really need to go?
Well, that depends. If you want to stay abreast of the latest work being make by the most prominent artists of the day, and the most cutting-edge art trends from around the world, then the answer is yes—there's simply no substitute for wading through the miles of aisles at these things and taking in all of the art. If you are more interested in engaging with only the highest-quality contemporary art, then the answer is no. But in that case you should just wait for the newest art to go through the curatorial/critical editing process that sifts the good from the bad and eventually plants it in a museum, which can take years. By which time, if you wanted to buy something, you'd probably be out of luck.
About This Event
What is an art fair?
Good question! On the most basic level, an art fair is a trade show—i.e. a place for people in the art business, from dealers and art advisors to collectors and curators, to kibbutz and make deals. But fairs are also sumptuous visual emporiums that are open to the public, and exhibitors tend to pepper the events with dazzling, spectacular pieces to delight crowds and capture the imagination of photographers. There's a reason why fairs like the Armory Show and the Art Show call themselves "shows."
Art fairs are crowded and huge and confusing. Do I really need to go?
Well, that depends. If you want to stay abreast of the latest work being make by the most prominent artists of the day, and the most cutting-edge art trends from around the world, then the answer is yes—there's simply no substitute for wading through the miles of aisles at these things and taking in all of the art. If you are more interested in engaging with only the highest-quality contemporary art, then the answer is no. But in that case you should just wait for the newest art to go through the curatorial/critical editing process that sifts the good from the bad and eventually plants it in a museum, which can take years. By which time, if you wanted to buy something, you'd probably be out of luck.