The fourth annual fair will attract thousands of visitors by continuing to showcase a diverse group of artists, as well as play host to lectures and parties. The fair returns this year with more exhibitors, new artists, an expanded price range for collectors and a new public programs. Paintings, drawings, sculptures, video, photography and limited edition prints all priced from $100 - $10,000.
The Fourth Annual AAF Contemporary Art Fair New York
This year's New York Fair will attract thousands of visitors by continuing to
showcase a diverse group of artists, as well as play host to lectures and parties.
Building
on the growth and continued success of previous AAF Contemporary Art Fairs in New
York, the Fair returns this year with more exhibitors, new artists, an expanded price range
for collectors, new public programs, and a new collectors’ group.
AAF creates an exciting environment for first-time and established collectors to purchase
original contemporary works by emerging artists represented by galleries from around the
world. AAF Contemporary Art Fair is the place for new and established collectors to
discover and buy paintings, drawings, sculptures, video, photography and limited edition
prints from distinguished galleries, all priced from $100 - $10,000.
AAF NYC '05 will welcome more than 140 galleries, up 45% from its launch in 2002.
AAF NYC '05 will showcase an increasingly diverse slate of North American exhibitors
and artists, with approximately a quarter of the exhibitors coming from Europe and South
America. AAF NYC '04 reported approximately 13,000 visitors over the four-day Fair,
with a remarkable one in every four visitors purchasing a work of art. Sales exceeded $3
million, an impressive sum given the accessible price points of the works represented.
According to the UK-based founder of AAF, Will Ramsay, “We are very excited to be
building our platform of exhibitors and public programs in the United States. We have
no doubt that AAF NYC ‘05 will outdo our previous New York fairs and lead to the
launch of additional AAF events across the United States.â€
Breaking slightly with tradition, AAF NYC ’05 has raised the price ceiling for a
percentage of works exhibited to $10,000, while remaining committed to offering a
majority of works from $100 to $5,000. The Fair asks that 75% of the works in each
booth be under $5,000. AAF NYC Director Helen Allen adds “We’re committed to
giving all our visitors access to a broad selection of contemporary art. That’s what this
show is about. That’s why the crowds come and have so much fun. This year we’re also
pleased to be able to offer our exhibitors a chance to present some works of higher value;
as the fair grows and new collector markets develop, new demands are created – we’re
happy to open our doors to this new market as well.â€
Building on the strength of AAF’s past programming, AAF NYC '05 will host public
programs such as lectures, children's art workshops and art demonstrations. This year, the
Saturday panel discussion organized by Rhizome will explore models for developing a
market for New Media and Digital Arts while Sunday’s lecture will focus on collecting.
This year's Fair will feature a video and new media program, a curated exhibition of
Columbia MFA candidate artists and a Children’s Art Workshop organized by Children’s
Museum of Manhattan with varied programs for children from the ages of 3 to 12. AAF
NYC ’05 will also feature a Collectors’ Lounge for visitors, designed by Aswoon / Susan
Woods Studio whose clients have included: Ferragamo, Gucci, and Saks Fifth Avenue
and numerous private clients.
Also new in 2005, AAF organizers have launched AAF Contemporary Art Fair’s New
Collectors Group. For an annual membership fee, art enthusiasts and new collectors can
now enjoy AAF programming throughout the year, including lectures, gallery events and
curatorial tours of contemporary art exhibitions. AAF’s New Collectors Group (AAF
NCG) kicked off in May’05 with a curatorial walk through of Columbia University
School of the Arts’ MFA Exhibition by independent curator Jeffrey Uslip. Upcoming
AAF NCG programming includes a private viewing of the “International Geographicâ€
exhibit at Artists Space in September, a Collectors’ Lounge Cocktail Reception at AAF
NYC ’05 in October, a gallery tour of Chelsea and “An Inside Look,†a studio visit with
an emerging New York City artist.
AAF Contemporary Art Fair launched in London in 1999 with great success and it has
expanded to Sydney, Melbourne, Bristol and New York.
Media Contact:
Julia G. Kay - Kay Media LLC
(646) 442.4983 Julia@kaymediallc.com
Glenna Abend Kay Media LLC
Tel. 646.442.4985 Fax 646.442.4990 glenna@kaymediallc.com
Pier 92
52nd Street and 12th Avenue - New York City
When:
Thursday, Oct 27, 12pm-5pm
Friday, Oct 28, 12pm-8pm
Saturday, Oct 29, 11am-7pm
For more information about AAF Contemporary Art Fair or AAF Contemporary Art Fair’s New Collectors Group, please call AAF at (212) 255-2003.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and free for children under
12.