Taking place in New York City, from the 3-6 March, The Armory Show represents an essential event in the artistic calendar. This year sees its 22nd edition since its creation in 1994 and bears witness to a diverse selection of both emerging and established artists, represented by 205 galleries from 36 countries worldwide. The event is divided into five sections: Modern, Contemporary, Armory Presents, Not for Profits, and Focus: African Perspectives, all of which are spread across Pier 92 and 94. In addition, a special series of talks and organised tours will be accessible throughout the weekend.
Alongside major establishments from New York City, London, Paris and Berlin, this year sees a rise in global contributions as The Armory Show welcomes organisations and artists from Asia, South Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. In terms of contemporary art, exhibitions include mixed media pieces, print works and a selection of innovative photography from notable exhibitors such as Blain Southern with a showcase of recent works by Abdoulaye Konaté, Sean Kelly presenting photography by James Casebere and Marina Abramovic, and David Zwirner with a variety of pieces by Francis Alÿs, Carol Bove, Donald Judd, Yayoi Kusama, Wolfgang Tillmans and others.
Meanwhile, Modern Art exhibits date largely from the 20th century and feature a plurality of modern masters from the USA including Alexander Caldere and Jonathan Boos. Pieces on display include metal relief, sculpture and kinetic work, painting, drawing and print. Highlights include Alan Cristea Gallery‘s presentation of new screenprints by Julian Opie and hand-painted monoprints by Jim Dine, alongside Osborne Samuel‘s display of silver gelatin montages by Erwin Blumenfeld.
The Armory Presents section adds to the discovery and promotion of various new galleries, promoting the work of establishments of less than 10 years of age. An interactive data hub, sculptural installations and linoleum tile installations are just some of the exhibitions on show. This section welcomes ARRATIA BEER, Berlin; Belenius/Nordenhake, Stockholm and Bischoff Projects, Frankfurt, amongst others.
The 2016 Armory Focus, entitled African Perspectives, explores the influences and conception of African art. In previous years, this section has explored areas such as Middle Eastern and Chinese art. This year’s edition, curated by Julia Grosse and Yvette Mutumba, presents series of work from areas such as Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Nigeria. One exhibit focuses on anthropology, performance and fashion through the use of striking imagery, while a showcase by the Circle Art Gallery uses multi-media to examine the growing LGBT society in African culture. Accompanying galleries include Addis Fine Art, Addis Ababa; blank, Cape Town; Echo Art, Lagos; and Tiwani Contemporary, London.
Throughout the weekend a series of talks, presented by curators, critics, gallerists, museum directors and industry experts, will look into a variety of topics including the art market and the impact of the digital age, with The Armory’s Show’s final two days being dedicated to the African Perspectives symposium.
The Armory Show, until 6 March, Piers 92 & 94, New York.
Find out more: www.thearmoryshow.com.
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Credits
1. Abdoulaye Konaté, Composition en rouge (orange, vert et jaune citron) (Detail), 2015. BlainISouthern.
