The art fairs are back in town and we’re out and about to see what’s trending for collectors and those curious about art and design. Follow along!
The Bar Trunk by Trunks Company.
We stopped in to The Art Show, one of the longest-running art fairs in the country and put on by the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA). For its 130th edition, 57 booths featured solo exhibitions, including standout presentations by Tavares Strachan with Marian Goodman Gallery (New York), Joel Mesler with Cheim & Read (New York), Sheila Hicks with Sikkema Jenkins & Co. (New York), Roy Lichtenstein with Castelli Gallery (New York) and Kiki Smith with Pace Gallery (New York & Los Angeles). I was particularly interested in the George Sand (French writer and artist) watercolor series presented by the Jill Newhouse Gallery.
For anyone who’s interested in top tier furniture, fine art and décor, the annual Salon Art & Design fair is one of the most anticipated fairs of the year with its high style exhibitors and their expertly curated settings in the categories of art and design. Held at the historic and huge Park Avenue Armory on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, I always feel as if I’m crashing Elle Décor and Architectural Digest magazine photoshoots!
Fifty of the world’s finest galleries who present design and art from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries encompassing historical, modern and contemporary furniture and groundbreaking design exhibited this year. It’s a chic and vibrant mix of genres and styles, and the only fair of this caliber in these categories. For the first time, Salon integrated a select group of special design and jewelry exhibitions on the floor, ranging from exclusive capsule collections from individual designers to smaller curations from galleries such as ABASK.
The ABASK booth at Salon & Design Fair. Image credit: Peter Baker/Wallpaper magazine
Paritosh Mehta of Trunks Company (founded in 2011) is a first-time exhibitor. Of the company’s Rajputana Bar Cabinet Trunk, Library Bar Trunk and Chess Bar Cabinet, he said, “We have fused an innate romanticism and art with intricate craftsmanship to treasure one’s prized possessions, passions and emotions. We continue to draw cultural inspiration from Jaipur’s timeless heritage, and our journey is an ever-evolving canvas with intricate details, depth, and layers.” These masterpieces merge Indian culture with craftsmanship and are made in the company’s headquarters in the regal city of Jaipur, India.
On the flip side, we took in The Other Art Fair, presented by Saatchi Art, which took place in Brooklyn the same weekend, with affordable artworks from more than 120 artists from around the globe, with more than half of exhibitors local to the New York metropolitan area. Throughout the weekend, fair visitors mingled among art works, the artists, and also enjoyed drinks and delicious bites, with live DJ sets, unique installations and hands-on workshops. The Other Art Fair fosters an inclusive environment where art is for everyone. Placing an emphasis on community, the Brooklyn edition supports and promotes local talent with numerous New York-based partners, brands, artists, organizations and more.
Prince's stage-worn white ruffled shirt.
Not considered an art fair, but worth mentioning, is the upcoming auction of legendary musician Prince’s iconic wardrobe and accessories presented by RR Auctions. Attending the preview of “The Fashion of Prince” at the newly refurbished Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan, we took a closer look at the glamorous coats, the sensational white ruffled blouse, plus shoes and costume jewelry, all part of the collection being auctioned this month. If you’re looking to spice up your wardrobe, bid now!
In addition to a career in communications and marketing focused on the luxury lifestyle sector, including co-authoring and lecturing a case study on French heritage jeweler Mauboussin with Harvard Business School, Isabelle continues to share her experiences about fine art, wine, travel, jewelry and culture as a freelance writer for internationally based digital publications.
