Navigating Your Way Through an Art Fair

Mar 2, 2017

In pretty much every corner of the globe, you can find an art fair. It’s where art collectors and advisors to dealers and curators come together to discover international art-world trends and to make deals.

To make the most of your time, it would help to do a little planning prior to your visit. You’ll be able to find the exhibitor list and usually the catalogue online or you can pick one up onsite. Alternatively, don’t be afraid to get lost amongst the booths!

You never know what you’ll stumble upon so you’ll benefit from putting aside four to six hours to walk the larger art fairs and about an hour or two for the smaller ones. The smaller satellite fairs are great for finding less expensive works by offbeat and emerging artists.

Stay up-to-date on the latest art trends and practical tips by attending educational programs offered at most of the larger art fairs. Panel discussions from leading art market experts can also provide advice on building a collection to help you make informed purchasing decisions.

While exploring the walls, if you find something you truly love, don’t wait too long. At these fast-paced fairs, it might have been picked up by the time you come back. If you find an artist you love, but the piece is out of your price range, ask whether there are other works available at a more affordable cost. Not everything will be hanging on the walls and often the artist’s catalogue is on-hand.

The art world comes into focus this week in New York and One Art Nation will be heading to The Armory Show, Scope and Art on Paper to name a few. We’ll be back May 5-7 for the 1AN Symposium at Art New York, so be sure to come by for our program starting at 2pm daily.