There’s no substitute for seeing art in person – both for pleasure, and to add to your art education. And if you live in New York or will be visiting here in March, there are some key fairs, auctions and exhibitions that you should attend, the most notable of which are below.
Wednesday, March 1 is the private opening of The Armory Show, a prominent, international art fair that takes place every year on Piers 92 and 94 on the West Side Highway. This year, the Armory will host more than 200 galleries from 30 countries selling art ranging from established 20th century artists to young, emerging artists. The fair opens to the public on March 2 and runs through March 5. Art fairs are an efficient way to see a wide range of art under one roof. Prepare to have an open mind, ask questions, and take pictures, learning what you like – but also what you don’t.
Early March also brings auction house mid-season sales – Sotheby’s on March 2 and Christie’s on March 3. These auctions are not as big or headline-grabbing as the main sales in May and November, but they still present fabulous opportunities to educate yourself on various artists and types of art. Prior to the sales, the auction houses have several days of viewings, which are free and open to the public.
Also in March is the opening of the Whitney Biennial, a survey of American contemporary art, which takes place every other year and is one of the leading exhibitions in the art world. This will be the first edition in the museum’s new home in the Meatpacking District. Preview days are March 15 and 16, and the exhibition is open to the public from March 17 – June 11. Artists range from emerging to established, presenting another great opportunity to get ideas and also an understanding of what is happening right now in the art world.
This year, I will miss the Biennial opening in order to attend Art Dubai, an international art fair with a large concentration of galleries from the Middle East. I am excited to learn more about art from the region and am taking my own advice – going to see it in person!
A note about art fairs If you are considering purchasing art at a fair, take a quick look at the newsletter I wrote on the subject: When are Art Fairs the Right Place to Buy Art? In short, fairs are a good place to buy art if you are experienced and prepared, meaning you’ve looked at a lot of art previously. They are not good venues for an impulse purchase.
As always, I welcome any inquires. And if you’re interested in touring any of the upcoming fairs with me, I would love to show you around – but please contact me soon, as my schedule is filling up. Happy hunting – and learning!
02/21/17