The Armory Show
New director Nicole Berry’s direction to achieve more with less
The Armory Show – arguably the American art fair – opened to the public on March 8. New York saw the usual frenzied mixture of overseas buyers, esteemed art institutions, and curious wayfarers at the West Side Piers venue.
Founded by four New York gallerists, the show serves as a nexus for the art world to inspire dialogue, discovery, and patronage in the visual arts. This year, the show reconnects with its past by trimming the fat and showcasing fewer works to make a greater impact. The exhibition space brings together 198 galleries from 31 countries: fewer galleries than previous years but with a more potent punch. There were big works, both in name and size, notably “So Close”, French street artist JR’s giant cutouts outside Pier 94 and “Without You I’m Nothing”, Jeffrey Gibson’s textile work based on Native American ceremonial clothing.
Following the Armory week, the London-born Frieze Art Fair will debut its seventh New York edition in May promising a “fresh and exciting experience” including a platform for performances, installations, and interactive projects throughout the fair, as well as an international open call for an emerging artist to realize a major site-specific work at Frieze.
Sources: The Armory Show (2018) | Artsy (The Armory Show 2018) | Monocle (The Monocle Minute, March 10, 2018) | Frieze New York (January 18, 2018) | Image: Silvia Ros | Artsy