About
The Armory Show
1994—2025
In 1994, four New York art dealers had the ambitious goal of creating a new art fair to support their artists and attract global attention. They succeeded. The result was a groundbreaking cultural moment that has become vital to the New York art market and beyond. While much has changed over the years, our ingenuity and ambition have not. The Armory Show is a galvanizing force in the art world and essential to New York’s cultural landscape.
The New York Armory Show The International Exhibition of Modern Art, 1913
Thomas Davis
Director of Communications
and Programming
Laure Dubois
Director of Marketing
J. Tyler Woodall
Exhibitor Relations Manager
Tate Waddell
Senior VIP Relations Manager
Rebecca Moss
Marketing Manager
Galleries & Solo
Selection Committee
James Cohan
James Cohan
New York
Anne-Claudie Coric
Templon
Paris, Brussels, New York
Mariane Ibrahim
Mariane Ibrahim Gallery
Chicago, Paris, Mexico City
Daniel Roesler
Galeria Nara Roesler
Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, New York
Presents
Selection Committee
Anat Ebgi
Anat Ebgi
Los Angeles, New York
James Fuentes
James Fuentes
New York, Los Angeles
Mariane Ibrahim
Mariane Ibrahim Gallery
Chicago, Paris, Mexico City
Kendra Jayne Patrick
Gallery Kendra Jayne Patrick
Bern
1994
Four New York dealers – Colin de Land, Pat Hearn, Matthew Marks and Paul Morris – come together to stage an international art fair, renting a group of rooms at the legendary Gramercy Park Hotel and inviting dealers from New York and abroad to participate. The Gramercy International Art Fair, as it was then called, was the first “hotel-fair” of its kind, and quickly becomes a critical hit and cult event, admired for showing exclusively new works by living artists.
The Gramercy International Art Fair Art Dealers at the Gramercy International Art Fair, courtesy of the Colin de Land Photo Archive
1999
After several successful editions at the Gramercy Park Hotel, the fair moves to a more expansive location at the 69th Regiment Armory on Lexington Avenue. The fair is renamed “The Armory Show” in homage to the Regiment’s legendary 1913 exhibition of the same name which famously showcased avant-garde works by European artists previously unseen in America.
The New York Armory Show, 1913 The New York Armory Show - the International Exhibition of Modern Art
2001
The Armory Show moves to Manhattan’s West Side, making its new home in yet another historic part of New York City. Occupying Piers 88 & 90, The Armory Show’s arrival at the piers signals an important chapter in the redevelopment and revitalization of the district’s numerous abandoned structures, which had once serviced the city’s transportation industry.
Piers 92 & 94
2002
The Armory Artist Commission is established, extending the fair’s commitment to supporting living artists by spotlighting the work of a different artist each year. Past Commissioned Artists include: Lawrence Abu Hamdan (2015); Xu Zhen (2014); Liz Magic Laser (2013); Theaster Gates (2012); Gabriel Kuri (2011); Susan Collis (2010); Ewan Gibbs (2009); Mary Heilmann and John Waters (2008); Pipilotti Rist (2007); John Wesley (2006); Jockum Nordström (2005); Lisa Ruyter (2004); Barnaby Furnas (2003) and Karen Kilimnik (2002).
Armory Artist Commission White Gold Kapwani Kiwanga, 2016 Courtesy of Galerie Jerome Poggi / Galerie Tania Wagner
2006
Deepening its partnership with MoMA, The Armory Show launches its Benefit Edition series, whereby the fair‘s Commissioned Artist produces a limited-edition artwork to benefit the Pat Hearn and Colin de Land Acquisition Fund and MoMA. Mary Heilmann, John Waters, Pipilotti Rist, Liz Magic Laser and Theaster Gates are just some of the artists who would go on to create limited-edition works for the fair.
Pat Hearn and Colin de Land Courtesy of The Pat Hearn and Colin de Land Cancer Foundation.
2009
The fair expands to Piers 92 & 94 with the introduction of The Armory Show – Modern on Pier 92 which was devoted to presenting masterworks of the 20th century. Now entitled Insights, this exhibitor section brings a historical perspective to the fair's offerings, juxtaposing past and present.
The Armory Show – Modern An installation view of Susan Sheehan Gallery featuring work by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Frank Stella and other modern masters on Pier 92
2010
A new exhibitor section, Armory Focus, is established. This invitational section is devoted to spotlighting a different geographic region each year. A critical and commercial success, Armory Focus provided galleries from regions across the world with the opportunity to exhibit in New York. Curators and regions include: Africa (2016), curated by Yvette Mutumba and Julia Grosse; Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean (2015), curated by Omar Kholeif; China (2014), curated by Philip Tinari; USA (2013), curated by Eric Shiner; Nordic Countries (2012), curated by Jacob Fabricius; Latin America (2011) and Berlin (2010).
Focus Africa Perspectives Francisco Vidal drawing and dj-ing at Tiwani Gallery on Pier 94 as part of The Armory Show's 2016 Focus section
2014
The Armory Show introduces Presents, a platform for galleries no more than ten years old to showcase recent work from emerging artists. Solo-artist and dual-artist presentations spotlight the next generation of artistic talents. A critical and commercial success, Presents remains an important part of The Armory Show's identity today.
Armory Presents Works by Douglas Coupland at Daniel Faria Gallery, from The Armory Show 2016
2016
The Armory Show and The Armory Show – Modern are merged into a single fair for 20th and 21st century artworks with five exhibitor sections staged across Piers 92 & 94. The Armory Show announces a new vision aimed at increasing the curatorial focus of the fair, fostering young galleries and staging site-specific artists commissions.
New Vision A large-scale work by El Anatsui at Jack Shainman Gallery, from The Armory Show 2016.
2019
In 2019, The Armory Show celebrated its 25th Anniversary edition, marking a quarter-century since the fair's founding in 1994. To mark this historic milestone, The Armory Show announced the creation of the Gramercy International Prize, a new yearly initiative that supports the advancement of young and pioneering New York galleries who have not previously participated in The Armory Show.
2021 And Beyond
The Armory Show makes a historic move to the newly expanded Javits Center from September 9-12, 2021. Kicking-off New York's fall art season, The Armory Show continues its legacy as a gateway to New York’s art scene, linking visitors to exhibitors at the fair as well as New York City galleries, museums, arts organizations, artists and collectors. The pairing of the fair’s new dates with its new location near the Chelsea gallery district, the scenic High Line, and the lively Tribeca neighborhood, makes a visit to The Armory Show a dynamic launch into the fall art season.
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