I paid a go to to the Park Avenue Armory yesterday night for the 36th version of the Art Show, the Art Dealers Association of America’s (ADAA) annual honest benefitting the Henry Street Settlement — certainly one of New York City’s vital resources for the Lower East Side. Through this Sunday, November 2, 75 ADAA member galleries are taking up the first-floor showroom, with a majority devoting their cubicles to solo artist displays.
It was my first time attending the Art Show, and I used to be grateful in hindsight for skipping the elbow-to-elbow foot site visitors and fizzy champagne flutes of opening night time in favor of a extra docile 4pm crowd the next day. Though dozens of “I voted early” stickers have been proudly sported all through the expo, the calm vibes have been a much-needed reprieve from the election frenzy.
The fabric-lined partitions and ethereal aisles allowed me to navigate the honest with an open thoughts and an excellent clearer head. That plentiful area in between led me to what stood out most — small-scale hyperrealism. And I used to be spoiled for selection!
It appears I wasn’t alone in assigning these classes, both, as I realized whereas chatting with Todd Hosfelt, whose namesake gallery is displaying a number of the aforementioned bite-sized realism within the type of a collection of current oil work by Tim Hawkinson. Hosfelt and I lamented the paucity of dimensional artwork and images, and he gave me a realizing look after I requested him in regards to the dominance of tiny artworks and photorealism.
Hosfelt attributed its recognition this 12 months to a collective “desire for intimacy,” noting that Hawkinson’s work are derived from tenderly to unflatteringly mundane pictures he, his spouse, and his daughter took on their telephones. I used to be drawn to them like a moth to a lamp for his or her candidness — one work depicts Hawkinson consuming from a water fountain at a museum from the angle of the spout, whereas one other embodies an off-kilter shot of his father sleeping within the window seat of an airplane.
Hosfelt stated the work are “so real that they’re surreal,” emphasizing an uncanniness that Hawkinson attains by means of positive particulars and uncommon views.
Nancy Hoffman Gallery additionally provided the same eye salve of small-scale realism, however this time within the type of index card-sized serene oil nonetheless lives by Lucy Mackenzie, who spends as much as six months on every work in an act of devotion. C’naan Hamburger’s hyper-detailed however considerably non-descript egg-tempera odes to New York City life additionally captured a variety of consideration at Charles Moffett Gallery, which made its debut on the Art Show this 12 months.
Both Hoffman and Vilma Clausen, gallery affiliate for Charles Moffett Gallery, attested that folks have been captivated by scale and realism this 12 months. Clausen famous that Hamburger’s work bought out by the top of the second day, and Hoffman shared that “while things have been different for the gallery because of the election, sales at the Art Show have been going really well so far.”
Ages in the past, miniatures artist Margie Criner, whose work was included within the 2023 exhibition Small Is Beautiful at 718 Broadway, instructed me that “we can’t really control very much in our long lives, but if I can control four square inches for a day, I somehow feel a little better.”
It looks as if now greater than ever, that want for management is each a draw for artists and viewers alike. To have one thing to fuss over, mould, and come collectively in an period of worldwide tumult far out of our fingers is as relieving as with the ability to get misplaced within the fastidious mark-making that builds a complete world inside 4 corners.
Alternatively, a grandiose persona can’t all the time be contained by tight dimensions. Over on the George Adams Gallery sales space, I acquired to attach with M. Louise “Lulu” Stanley, whose monumental work have been displayed alongside Elisa D’Arrigo’s glazed ceramics.
Stanley’s gargantuan acrylic work have been lively, movement, and humor, rife with symbolism and classical references, and a transparent extension of her prowess as an artist and teacher.
“During last night’s preview, Lulu turned the booth into a classroom — she was leading large groups of guests through each work and speaking to them about it,” stated Gallery Director Charlotte Kahn. “It’s great to support these exceptionally talented, brilliant women who have been under-appreciated.”
Stanley did simply that after I naturally commented on the looks of a canine in her portray “Jupiter and Io” (2008), strolling me by means of her painterly choices, thought processes, and different easter eggs all through the composition.
Geometric abstraction, botanical artwork, and figuration- and portraiture-heavy historic supplies have been abundantly current all through the honest along with the realism. The Art Show has additionally debuted a brand new program known as “Spotlight On …” that focuses on ADAA member galleries from a brand new metropolis every year, beginning with Houston, Texas. Just look out for a star on the gallery labels atop every sales space, because the image denotes Houston contributors.
