The thirty seventh version of the Artwork Sellers Affiliation of America’s (ADAA) flagship artwork truthful, The Artwork Present, has been cancelled. marking the primary time in many years that the truthful won’t happen on the Park Avenue Armory.
In an e-mail to members on Wednesday reviewed by ARTnews, ADAA management cited a “strategic pause” as the rationale behind cancelling, including that the board had made the choice “after cautious assessment.” The truthful was initially scheduled to open with a profit preview on October 28.
“Whereas we perceive this information could also be disappointing, we consider this pause presents a significant alternative to reimagine The Artwork Present with long-term sustainability and member worth in thoughts,” the e-mail reads. “It permits us to guage how finest to assist our members, companions, and the broader arts neighborhood in an evolving cultural and market panorama.”
Whereas framed as a chance for long-term planning, the transfer underscores the broader sense of instability and reorganization within the artwork world. Over the previous two weeks, two main artwork sellers, Tim Blum and Adam Lindemann, have introduced they had been closing their doorways, whereas artwork advisors Barbara Guggenheim and Abigail Asher have taken what seems to be a fierce inside feud to courtroom.
The ADAA’s resolution provides institutional weight to the rising record of retrenchments.
The Artwork Present, which started in 1988, has lengthy served as a keystone occasion for Higher East Facet collectors and sellers. Its gala preview evening advantages the Henry Road Settlement, elevating greater than $38 million for the social providers nonprofit during the last three many years.
In line with the letter, exhibitors who submitted deposits shall be contacted subsequent week for “details about reimbursement choices.”
The ADAA board mentioned the truthful will return in 2026, “with a renewed imaginative and prescient.” Nonetheless, its absence this yr will certainly gasoline ongoing fears of an unsteady artwork market.
