Spring Art Guide, Part 2: Art Fairs
May is nothing short of a whirlwind of art fairs and art shows all around town. The much anticipated art fairs are returning!
Here is a list of those we feel are not-to-be-missed.
Future Fair
First up is Future Fair, which takes place this very weekend. This exciting and young fair is growing each year, and it has an emphasis on gallery owners who are women and people of color. It’s definitely the most collaborative fair out there, as among the 50 exhibitors some will even share booths!
May 5 - 7
535 West 28th Street
Image: Willehad Eilers, Kleiner Mann ganz Gross, 2022
The highly anticipated New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) fair is finally returning to the Lower East Side from May 5-8! The 120 exhibitors will span beyond just galleries, and there will be a selection of talks and performances throughout the weekend. NADA is committed to supporting emerging artists and making contemporary art more accessible to the public.
May 5 - 8
Pier 36 (299 South Street)
Image: Amber Rane Sibley, Generous Helping #3, 2021
Home to many great fairs of art and design, the historic Park Avenue Armory will host one of the most coveted – TEFAF New York. The European Fine Art Foundation will feature a global selection of galleries, resulting in works spanning from 440 BCE to present day. Among the fair’s many tempting attributes are free oysters and Champagne, the perfect accompaniment to an art-fueled afternoon.
May 6 - 10
Park Avenue Armory
Image: Emil Nolde, Zwei Frauen als Halbfiguren, 1931-5
In Tribeca, Independent Art Fair will be home to 66 commercial and nonprofit galleries this weekend. Many of the galleries will be featuring just one or two artists that are lesser known, so the fair will be a fresh and exciting experience for all visitors. The fair will also have a digital counterpart that runs until May 31st!
May 5 - 8
Spring Studios (50 Varick Street)
Image: Jiang Cheng, U-53, 2020
Another unmissable fair this month is Frieze New York. Of course, it’s full of the most influential galleries today, but there is also a section called “Frame” which features emerging, younger galleries. This fair will take place in the very hot event space The Shed, and it’s happening later this month so you still have some time to coordinate your visit!
May 18 - 22
The Shed
Image: Rebecca Sharp, Eternal maze manoeuvers, 2022
VOLTA will be housed in the former Dia Building this Spring, featuring an array of established galleries along with many up-and-coming ones. Some exhibitors making their debut include Leipzig-based She BAM!, an all-women gallery with a focus on women artists, and Santa Fe-based Kouri + Corrao Gallery, which will be presenting a solo show of the incredible thread structures by Jen Pack.
May 18-22
548 West 22nd Street
Image: Jen Pack, Walk-in Rainbow, 2018
The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair will take place at the Harlem Parish later this month, with 25 exhibitors. The fair is curated by Novella Ford, and aims to exhibit work from Africa and the African diaspora. This year, the show is putting an emphasis on Harlem-based galleries such as Long Gallery and Medium Tings. Also, be on the lookout for many talks, screenings, and performances taking place throughout Harlem during the fair, put together by 1-54 Forum.
May 19-22
258 West 118th Street
Image: Katlego Tlabela, Ikoyi Lagos (study), 2020
The 41st edition of the Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD) fair will feature 49 galleries later this month. The fair will be a complete representation of the many forms and styles that this medium takes on, from 19th century photographs to recent video installations. The International Center for Photography will also be holding a Photobook Fest to coincide with this long-running fair.
May 20-22
Center415
Image: Daido Moriyama, “Untitled” from Passage, 1998-1999