Generally art fairs are my least favourite venue to see works of art. It pains me to see pieces out of context, to see versions of artwork that are shown because they are the most indicative of an artist’s practice–in other words, most safely collected–rather than because they are the most challenging, and it annoys me to overhear conversations about what party to go to while standing in front of a painting by my favourite artist. However, I have a really rough case of F.O.M.O. (fear of missing out) that prevented me from dismissing The Armory Show this weekend in NYC altogether.
Thankfully, lots of money and a penchant to be the world’s best gallery allows for a display of the best art that money can buy. Which, whether the context is annoying or not, still allows some poor little artist schmuck like me to see work by some of my favourite artists.
Here is a list of work that made me not leave The Armory Show with steam blowing from my ears:
Peter Schuyff Untitled, oil on linen, 1992
Sorry We’re Closed, Brussels
Terry Winters, Atmospheres, A portfolio of 12 screen prints on Lanaquarelle paper, 2014
Two Palms, New York
Joe Reihsen, Untitled, Acrylic on canvas, 2013
Praz-Delavallade, Paris
Wiebke Siem, o.T., foam, tweed, old dresser, 2015
Johnen Galerie, Berlin
James Castle, Untitled (Interior stove and chairs on envelope), soot and spit on found paper, n.d.
Fliesher Ollman Gallery, Philadelphia
Charles Steffen, Drawing After the Book of Revelations, colored pencil on brown wrapping paper, 1990
Andrew Edwin Gallery, New York
Jacob Lawrence, Makeup (aka Dressing Room), egg tempera on hardboard, 1952
Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, New York
