THE ARMORY SHOW 2018 CLOSES WITH CRITICAL ACCLAIM AND STRONG SALES REPORTED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK Under the Direction of Nicole Berry, the Fair Received Accolades for Enhanced Layout and Curated Sections
The Armory Show closed on Sunday, March 11 with outstanding and consistent sales ranging from four to seven figures throughout the week, and a robust turnout of collectors from across the United States. Exhibitors noted the significant presence of curators and museum patron groups during the fair, in addition to numerous institutional acquisitions.
The 2018 edition debuted a new layout, highlighted by the expanded Focus section and new Town Square on Pier 92. The fair’s improved layout, designed by Bade Stageberg Cox, as well as the decision to reduce the number of exhibitors, was positively received by collectors and exhibitors alike.
Now in its 24th year, this year’s edition featured 198 galleries from 31 countries, with 66 new exhibitors, including several who have returned after years of absence, including Galerie Eigen + Art (Berlin), Gagosian (New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Paris, Rome, Athens, Geneva, Hong Kong), Perrotin (New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo), Regen Projects (Los Angeles) and Van Doren Waxter (New York).
Four galleries that previously participated in Presents, graduated to Galleries, the fair’s main section: espaivisor (Valencia), Daniel Faria Gallery (Toronto), Mariane Ibrahim Gallery (Seattle) and Nicodim Gallery (Los Angeles).
Focus, curated by Gabriel Ritter, Curator and Head of Contemporary Art at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, featured 28 international galleries with solo or dual-artist presentations. Platform, curated by Jen Mergel, former senior curator of contemporary art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, staged 15 large- scale and site-responsive works throughout the fair.
Nicole Berry, Executive Director, The Armory Show, remarks: “The 2018 Armory Show was enthusiastically received and a critical success. An enhanced visitor experience resulted from layout improvements such as a more open floorplan, additional lounge areas and site-responsive works that made up Jen Mergel’s Platform section. A mindful rebalancing that favored larger booth size over exhibitor count in the Galleries section elevated the overall quality of presentations at the fair. Gabriel Ritter’s Focus section transformed the feel of Pier 92 adding a new energy. Many visitors also praised the high quality of work in the Insights section. In addition to the extraordinary art on display, the inaugural Curatorial Leadership Summit was a celebrated addition bringing over 75 curators and many of their patrons to the fair. Exhibitors and collectors alike said that this was the best Armory Show in years. We look forward to planning our 25th anniversary next year.”