Category Archives: Galleries

During Armory Week I had the chance to visit both the Armory Show, and Independent Art Show, the biggest art fairs in New York City’s Armory week. Both shows bring together the leading and most important galleries around the world focusing on 20^th and 21^st century modern and contemporary art. The Armory Show now in its 15^th year occurred in the premises of pier 92 and pier 94, the foremost devoted to modern art, mostly from secondary markets and defunct artists, and pier 94 devoted to contemporary artists mostly living and in innovative mediums and mix media. The Independent art show is a smaller version of the Armory show, showcasing over 40 galleries from 14 different countries mostly specialized in contemporary work and new mediums.

The spectrum of art and artists that the Armory Show had this year was incredibly vast, for an attendee, it was almost overwhelming, as one can get a little saturated by the size and extent of both piers and the amount of booths there are. With that said, there is also exceptional pieces that attract your eye in many directions. From a digital dinner between a married couple who only communicates through texting and are facing each other through digital images on ipads, to a talking donut, on the contemporary side. The Modern section on pier 92 has pieces from recognized artists as Miro, small Pollocks, Picasso drawings, and modern sculpture.

Independent had very new art, fresh, creative, many images and pieces criticizing 21^st century societal ideas. It was indeed a really fun stroll. Independent being of smaller size, it was much more manageable to truly observe everything without losing focus. There was a performance piece of a guy dressed as a clown lipsynching music hits from the 90’s and 2000’s, ranging from Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, to Britney Spears, Katy Perry and Gnangnan style. It was dramatic as well as humorous. And other pieces such as dishwashing trays filled with dirty plates and knick-knacks.

It was very exciting to see both shows, and also to compare the size of them, given that the Armory has become the biggest and most important annual art show in the city, but with it has brought about hundreds of other smaller fairs and the occurrence of art openings and special exhibitions and gatherings in such week, Armory Week. Sure will not forget to visit it again next year, and see what new trends are occurring in the art world.