Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary art fair opens Thursday
The Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary art fair returns for its sixth edition Thursday, bringing museum-quality art and important works from the 20th and 21st centuries to the Palm Beach County Convention Center.
The fair will run in conjunction with the Palm Beach International Boat Show — both of which are presented by Art Miami — along the waterfront in downtown West Palm Beach.
The fair features 95 galleries from 12 countries, 92 cities and hundreds of artists. They will exhibit an extensive selection of modern and contemporary art, with leading international galleries showcasing an array of world-class, investment-quality works from blue-chip contemporary, post-war and modern masters.
Visitors can expect to see works from many emerging talents as well as mid-career artists such as Josef Albers, Elise Ansel, Milton Avery, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Fernando Botero, Alexander Calder, Lynn Chadwick, Dan Christensen, George Condo, Carlos Cruz Diez, Willem de Kooning, Jean Dufy, Sam Francis, Helen Frankenthaler, Lucian Freud, Adolph Gottlieb, Phillip Guston, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, David Hockney, Hans Hofmann, Robert Indiana, Alex Katz, Ellsworth Kelly, Yayoi Kusama, Chun Kwang Young, Wifredo Lam, Julio Larraz, Sol LeWitt and Roy Lichtenstein.
Works from Joan Miró, Henry Moore, Robert Motherwell, Pablo Picasso, Marc Quinn, Gerhard Richter, Bridget Riley, Larry Rivers, Ed Ruscha, Kenny Scharf, Rafael Soto, Pierre Soulages, Donald Sultan, Wayne Theibaud, Boaz Vaadia, Manolo Valdes, Andy Warhol, Ai Wei Wei and Tom Wesselmann also will be included.
“The art market is coming off very strong results based on the auctions the last few weeks in London, which is a great bellwether for the health of the art market, showing that it is in a very healthy state this year again,” said Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary Director Nick Korniloff. “Clearly South Florida continues to be very busy with new residents and collectors and people that have acquired new properties and are looking to fill their wall space.
Not only is the shift in residents and home buyers moving to South Florida fueling the art market in the area, said Korniloff, but also the many corporations that have relocated to the area and are wanting to expand their corporate collections. They are purchasing art for their new buildings and lobbies, he said.
“There is a whole new group of collectors that needs to be satisfied, but more importantly they are great caretakers of cultural activity so they will be at the forefront of supporting all of our local cultural institutions,” said Korniloff. “They are coming from places and cities where they have already been involved and supported the arts, so they are doing the same now down here.”
More:Norton examines American modernism in two spring exhibitions
Exhibitor highlights include Miami’s Opera Gallery, which will present works from Cho Sung Hee, Chun Kwang Young, Mickalene Thomas, Fernando Botero, Anthony James, Manolo Valdes and Sam Francis; and the Long-Sharp gallery, which will present works by four female sculptors, Julia Ibbini (UAE), Miriam Londoño (Colombia), Nicole Pietrantoni (Prague/USA), and South Korea's Cha Jong.
Other highlights include Ascaso Gallery works by Cornelis Zitman’s “Pescadorcito” and Arman’s “Yellowciped;” Berry Campbell gallery’s works by Grace Hartigan and Frederick J. Brown; David Benrimon Fine Art will have works by Angeles Agrela, Fernando Botero and Yayoi Kusama; Cernuda Arte's works by Danuel Méndez’ and Wifredo Lam; Galeria Cortina's works including Joan Miró’s “Escalade Vers la Lune” and Andy Warhol’s “Mao II. 98.”
Another highlight of the fair will be a group of works at the fair’s entrance on loan from the American University Museum Corcoran Legacy Collection featuring 28 works from Rupert Garcia, one of the world's most acclaimed Chicano artists. Garcia, born in 1941 in California, is known for showcasing the social issues for which he fought. He is known as a painter, pastellist and screen printer who led a movement against “Yankee” culture through the production and use of posters and screen prints. There will be a VIP preview special event with a conversation with Jack Rasmussen, the American University Museum’s director and curator.
“The Rupert Garcia exhibition is very important and represents a side of the show where we let the art speak for itself regarding culture and people,” says Korniloff. “There’s a lot of connectivity between his work and the street art movement. Rupert’s work has been around for generations, he is a legacy, and some of the great street artists such as Shepard Fairey have paid tribute with their work in the same manner and they play off Garcia’s work, so this represents a part of the art world that has always been very socially conscious.”
The fair will open with an invitation-only VIP preview benefiting the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens, which serves as a satellite venue for the fair. In celebration of Women’s History Month and opening in conjunction with the fair, Long-Sharp Gallery presents SculptHER, an exhibit featuring works by female sculptors Julia Ibbini, Nicole Pietrantoni, Cha Jong Rye (whose work also will be on display at the art fair), and Miriam Londoño, an exhibit that will be on view through June at ANSG.
The VIP preview night also includes a presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Palm Beach philanthropist and advocate for the arts Frances Fisher, who has led the ANSG renovations this past decade. As a native Alabamian whose family was acquainted with the Norton family, Fisher grew up hearing stories of Ann Weaver Norton.
“Walking this majestic property was like falling in love and life full-circle for me,” said Fisher. “There was a much bigger story to tell in how Ann Norton’s vision as an accomplished American artist would be honored, and I appreciate being invited to tell it, so I am humbled to accept this award in honor of those who serve alongside me to better our country and community through a meaningful connection to the arts, nature and history.
“As Palm Beach County grows around this beautiful sanctuary, I am thrilled that the sculpture garden has such an important and unique role in serving our community and visitors through its many incredible exhibitions, programs and events. It’s a place of natural beauty, wonder and distinguished historical significance.”
Cultural partners and institutions such as the Ann Norton are what Korniloff thinks make the Palm Beach market very different and exciting. “Frances has done an amazing job repurposing and refurbishing the gardens and really bringing that facility back, so we wanted to honor and recognize her efforts,” said Korniloff.
Past lifetime achievement recipients include Beth Rudin DeWoody, Bruce Helander, Rena Blades and Harry Benson, all of whom are on the collector’s host committee for the VIP preview evening along with Catherine Adler, Alina de Almeida and John Paulson, Gigi Benson, John Blades, James Coleman, Stephania Conrad, Emilia and Jose ‘Pepe’ Fanjul, Frances and Jeffrey Fisher, Candia Fisher, Susi and Francisco “Paco” Gil, Missy and Eduardo de Guardiola, Jeff Pfeifle and David Granville, Audrey and Martin Gruss, Victoria Hagen and Michael Berman, Kim Heirston, Dee and Tommy Hilfiger, Jane Holzer, Carolina von Humboldt, Merrie and Nathaniel Kramer, Stacey and Andrew Kroll, Susan Lloyd, Caroline and Omeed Malik, Francisco and Sofia Vollmer Maduro, Renée and Carlos Morrison, Tommy Morrison, Amy and John Phelan, Marzia Precoda, Patricia Quick, Priscilla Rattazzi, Mathieu Rosinsky, Kara Ross, Scott Snyder, Robbi and Bruce Toll, Simone Vickar, Casey and Eric Waldin, Sarah Wetenhall, and Silvia and Sophocles Zoullas.
“The show is extremely diverse with very high quality paintings, sculpture, photography, video art, design, and it has become known as ‘the fair to wait for’ so to speak if you are a collector,” said Korniloff.
IF YOU GO:
VIP preview: 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday
Open to the public: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
Location
The Palm Beach County Convention Center at 650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Valet parking is available at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, as well as self-parking for $10. A complimentary shuttle is available between PBM+C and Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens and the boat show. Amenities at the convention center will include a café, VIP Lounge and a complimentary shuttle between the fair and Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens or the boat show will be available to guests during fair hours.
Tickets
Tickets are available at www.artpbfair.com/tickets. For more information visit www.artpbfair.com/visitor-info
PBM+C VIP cardholders receive complimentary one-day admission to the Boat Show.
Participating galleries
GalleryLABS Haven
11 {HH} + Naif Miami
3 Punts Galeria Barcelona
Adamar Fine Arts Miami
Adelson Galleries Palm Beach
Ai Bo Gallery Purchase
Aldo Castillo Gallery Naples
amArtHouse Bantam
Archeus/Post Modern London
Art Angels Los Angeles
Ascaso Gallery Miami
Avant Gallery Aventura
Axiom Contemporary Philadelphia
Bel Air Fine Art Miami
Berry Campbell Gallery New York
Boccara Gallery New York
Bogena Gallery Saint Paul De Vence
C. Grimaldis Gallery Baltimore
Cavalier Gallery and Coe + Co Photography Gallery Palm Beach
Cernuda Arte Coral Gables
Cinello Florence
Contessa Gallery Palm Beach
Cynthia Corbett London
David Benrimon Fine Art New York
De Haro Project Miami
Dean Project Miami Beach
DMD Contemporary Calverton
Duane Reed Gallery Saint Louis
Duque Arango Galeria Colombia
Emmanuelle G. Contemporary Greenwich
Espinasse31 Contemporary Gallery Milan
Eternity Gallery Miami
Ethan Cohen New York
Frederic Got Paris
Fremin Gallery New York
Friedrichs Pontone New York
Galeria Cortina Barcelona
Gallery 88 Miami Miami Beach
Gama Gallery Istanbul
GR Gallery New York
Heather Gaudio Fine Art New Canaan
HOFA Gallery London
Holden Luntz Gallery Palm Beach
In The Gallery Copenhagen
JF Gallery West Palm Beach
John William Gallery Wilmington
Kedria Arts Pontiac
Keyes Art Sag Harbor
Kubix Contemporary Art Miami
Kush Fine Art Miami Beach
Latin Art Core Miami
Laurent Marthaler Montreux
Liquid Art System Capri
Liz Clement Contemporary Hamilton
Long-Sharp Gallery Indianapolis
Madelyn Jordon Fine Art Scarsdale
MARK HACHEM Paris
Markowicz Fine Art Miami
Masterworks Fine Art Gallery Palo Alto
Matthew Swift Gallery Gloucester
Maune Contemporary Atlanta
New Apostle Gallery New York
New River Fine Art Fort Lauderdale
Next Street Gallery Paris
Okay Spark Norfolk
Oliver Cole Gallery Miami
Opera Gallery Miami
Pan American Art Projects Miami
Panorama Design/Arts Deerfield
Pontone Gallery London
Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery London
Rosenbaum Contemporary Boca Raton
Samuel Owen Gallery Palm Beach
Shchukin Gallery New York
Space 776 New York
Sous Les Etoiles Gallery New York
Sponder Gallery Boca Raton
Steidel Contemporary Lake Worth
Stella Gallerie Sunny Isles Beach
Strayfield Gallery Søborg
Sundaram Tagore Gallery New York
The Englishman Fine Art Naples
The Gallery Lounge Boca Raton
The Plaza Galleries Whistler
The Schoolhouse Gallery Provincetown
The Wall Art Gallery Miami
Timothy Yarger Fine Art Beverly Hills
Todd Merrill Studio New York
Vertu Fine Art Boca Raton
VK Gallery Amsterdam
West Chelsea Contemporary Austin
Zemack Contemporary Art Tel Aviv