ADAA - Art Show

Katya Kazakina of Bloomberg is reporting on the Art Dealers Association of Americas Art Show in New York City. The 21st annual show is considered by many as another barometer of the art market. This year, the showin the Park Avenue Armory with 70 dealers is without lead sponsor Lehman Brothers which recently filed for bankruptcy and the attitude compared to years past is muted.

Kazakina states the show’s organizer, the Art Dealers Association of America, said it’s expecting attendance to remain as strong as last year despite a dismal global economy and a plummeting art market.

“We all know the days of wild sales when booths were sold out within 20 minutes -- that era is over,” said Linda Blumberg, the association’s executive director, adding that “the first- rate work and smaller, more intimate atmosphere of the fair will accrue to our benefit.”

Customer Appeal As collectors retreat and many galleries have reduced staff or closed outright, the ADAA has encouraged participants to appeal to customers in a more creative way.

“Ten, 15 years ago, people would have had their inventory on the walls,” said Roland Augustine, president of the ADAA. “I’ve encouraged member-dealers to think more about the aesthetics and the curatorial approach. I think it serves the artist and the gallery better.”

As a result, 24 dealers are focusing on the work of a single artist, up from 18 last year.

To read the full Bloomberg article on the ADAA Art Show click HERE. ArtInfo also ran a good preview on the Art Show, click HERE to read.