With cautious steps being taken to ensure the safety of attendees, 2021 sees the welcome return of in-person art fairs to New York City. Over the next few days, galleries and showrooms will open up once again for a series of exhibitions across the city, with old and new favorites set to present a wide variety of works. All shows are open to the public, and whilst VIP preview windows have passed, these weekend events are not to be missed.
Returning to the fray after a slight delay, fair headliner The Armory Show will be held at the legendary Javits Center, showcasing works from both modern masters and cutting-edge contemporary artists from the world’s leading galleries. The Hell’s Kitchen located convention center is set to hold 157 of the 212 total contributors in person, with the remaining 55 being presented in an online format. The show will be requiring masks and proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test, alongside a government ID. You can buy tickets here.
Located at the Starret-Lehigh Building, 2021’s Future Fair is set to be the most diverse yet, featuring works from 34 galleries—25 percent of which are owned by people of color and 50 percent of which are owned by women. Future Fair Co-Founders Rachel Mijares Fick and Rebeca Laliberte said of this year’s show that “The self-actualization of Future Fair within the context of a life-changing pandemic has taught us so much about resilience, teamwork and allowing Future Fair to have the space to teach us its own evolutionary path.” The exhibition will also have a mask mandate, as well as proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test, alongside a government ID. You can find ticketing information here.
The Independent Art Fair is also returning this year, this time housed at Cipriani South Street at the Battery Maritime Building. The art fair with perhaps the most self-acclaim is set to feature 43 galleries and around 100 artists, allowing for a more intimate exhibition than typical of Independent. This years fair will also have the opportunity for online viewing rooms through to September 26th, which can be viewed through their website here. Like the others, Independent is also requiring masks and vaccines or proof of negative tests. For tickets to this event, click here.
The SPRING/BREAK Art Show returns for its 10th installment, titled HEARSAY: HERESY. Set to explore the neo-medieval through the convocation of times of plagues-past, the ever-provocative SPRING/BREAK Art Show can be found at 625 Madison Avenue. The exhibition will also feature an online platform to view works, and the show will also require masks, vaccines, or proof of a negative test. Tickets to the show can be found here. Make sure to visit The Untitled Space installation with artist Meg Lionel Murphy, “The Keep”.
Aimed at providing a platform for independent artists to self-promote, The Clio Art Fair focuses on valorizing artworks while respecting and highlighting their role within the architectural spaces they inhabit. Located at 550W 29th Street, this year the fair is featuring a number of selected works under the title “Canary in the Coal Mine: The People’s Art of Protest”. Featuring the works of Amir Diop, Al Diaz, and Palén Obesa, the fair, curated by Garon Willie, is requiring a similar mask mandate, as well as proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test, alongside a government ID. Tickets can be purchased through the fair’s website, here.
