As Armory Week kicks off in NYC, the city is abuzz with a new influx of art and culture. To help you make the most of Armory Week 2024, we've curated our annual guide featuring top picks from industry insiders. From must-see artists and galleries to can't-miss events, this guide has everything you need to navigate the vibrant art scene.
The Armory Show 2023
Dan Tanzilli, Co-Founder, Third Eye
“It would be impossible to talk about any highlights of Armory Week without starting with the 30th Anniversary edition of The Armory Show. Debuting a revitalized floor plan, the iconic New York fair offers an expansive view of the contemporary art world with 235 galleries from 35 countries.
The large-scale works in the Platform section, curated by Eugenie Tsai and titled Collective Memory, examine the interplay of memory, material, and spirit – with works by Sanford Biggers, Nari Ward, Dominique Fung, and Chiffon Thomas, to name just a few. Robyn Farrell of The Kitchen has curated the Focus section, which considers the experimental spirit of the fair’s 1994 founding at The Gramercy Park Hotel and the namesake International Exhibition of Modern Art in 1913 at New York City’s 69th Regiment Armory.
The Armory Show
Tennis lovers should be excited as the show is partnering with the US Open for the third time as part of Armory Off-Site. Off-Site includes exhibitions and performances occurring around the city over the duration of the fair, and sculptures by artists from underrepresented backgrounds including works by Claudia Peña Salinas, An Te Liu, and Tomokazu Matsuyama will be on view at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Further uptown, White Cube will be debuting a solo show of work by Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama — “A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS” — marking the artist’s first solo exhibition in New York.
Following his first presentation in the city since the 57 Forms of Liberty project at The High Line in 2021, the show at White Cube debuts new work and draws together ideas of physical labor, post-colonial collapse and reclamation. The show comprises an installation across the entirety of the ground floor and a series of large drawings filling the second-floor galleries that reflect his larger commitment towards social and cultural transformation in southern Ghana. A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS opens to the public with a preview reception on Wednesday, September 4 from 6-8pm.”
Jennifer Benz Joy, President & Managing Director, SUTTON
“September in New York is always my favorite time of year; the city comes alive with so many cultural happenings, and I love that The Armory Show now kicks off the fall season. I cannot wait to see Anastasia Samoylova’s work in person at Wentrup Gallery, which will present a new photographic series entitledAtlantic Coast, alongside significant images from two of her more well-known series: Flood Zone and Floridas. In October, Anastasia will be the subject of a two-person exhibition with Walker Evans at The Metropolitan Museum of Art – the first time since 1991 that a living female photographer has headlined an exhibition at The Met. At the same time, she has a major monograph with Thames & Hudson coming out. Needless to say, big things are happening for Anastasia – keep an eye out for her work!
Anastasia Samoylova, Snowy Egret, St Augustine, Florida (from the Atlantic Coast series), 2024
Two other incredible women artists are opening solo gallery shows this week – Janaina Tschäpe at Sean Kelly and Liza Lou at Lehmann Maupin. Both women use painting to explore mark-making in their own ways. Lou employs her signature material of glass beads in a free-form gesture across the canvas in the spirit of Abstract Expressionism, while Tschäpe’s newest body of work explores the interplay between scale and intimacy. Her vibrant, energetic paintings capture her fascination with the emotional and poetic potential of art. I plan to leave both shows feeling so much joy!”
Janaina Tschäpe, Walking through fields (Passeando no tempo), 2023. © Janaina Tschäpe Courtesy the artist and Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles
Hunter Braithwaite, Senior Vice President, Cultural Counsel
“At The Armory Show I’m excited for Sara Siestreem (Hanis Coos) presented by Elizabeth Leach and Cristin Tierney at Booth #117. In a joint presentation, both at Armory as well as at Cristin’s downtown gallery, the two galleries will debut a selection of the multidisciplinary artist’s newest large multi-panel paintings alongside woven basket sculptures, inspired by Indigenous weaving patterns.
In the galleries, I’m excited about Hasani Sahlehe’s debut at CANADA. His paintings revel in their physicality and lush palettes. CANADA is one of the city’s best galleries for painting, and this show is no exception.”
Sara Fitzmaurice, CEO and Founder, FITZ & CO
“Le’Andra LeSeur’s exhibition ‘Monument Eternal’ at Pioneer Works promises to be a deeply moving and thought-provoking exhibition and I’m thrilled to witness the artist’s first institutional show in New York. This powerful show, in part supported by Tulsa Artist Fellowship, assesses the ways in which monuments erected to commemorate racist legacies have affected Black communities.
Le’Andra LeSeur
At The Armory Show, I am looking forward to exploring the fair’s Platform section thoughtfully curated by Eugenie Tsai, featuring sculptures and installations by incredible artists like Chiffon Thomas presented by Michael Kohn Gallery and Dominique Fung presented by Jeffrey Deitch.”
Andy Cushman, Account Director, Visual Arts, Blue Medium
“This year’s highlights include Andrew Edlin Gallery’s presentation of Dan Miller: Light Bulb, Socket, Outlet, Fan on view (September 6 - October 19) and Bill Arning Exhibitions’ participation in NADA House at Governor's Island (September 3 - October 27).
“Dan Miller: Light Bulb, Socket, Outlet, Fan at Andrew Edlin Gallery presents new large scale works by the nonverbal, autistic artist. His art involves working obsessively with words and phrases, often layering them until they become illegible. Miller is on view at SFMOMA in Creative Growth: The House that Art Built. and the gallery will also feature Miller at Art Basel Paris, from October 16-20.
Dan Miller (b. 1961), Untitled, 2024, Acrylic and pen on paper, 30.25 x 44, Courtesy of Andrew Edlin Gallery.
“For the 2024 edition of NADA House, Bill Arning Exhibitions will present the Houston-based Venezuelan artist Gerardo Rosales with a new installation reflecting on immigration and the Venezuelan diaspora, combining two- and three-dimensional works to engage visitors with his personal and political themes.”
Gerardo Rosales, Shape Shifting Landscape Installed at NADA House
Rachel Cole, Principal & Founder, Rachel Cole Art Advisory
“Li Hei Di's art always catches my eye at art fairs. Her paintings look abstract initially, but the more you look, the more you see identifiable figures and strong contrasts. It’s a welcomed surprise when an abstract turns into something recognizable. Her art has this lovely mix of fluid tones and deep details, kind of like a blend of the color exploration in Helen Frankenthaler's work and the storytelling in Chagall's. I am excited to see how her practice evolves as she navigates between abstraction and representation and delves into the confrontations of her own human experience. The artist herself says it best when speaking about the subjects of her work, 'They are possibilities, not conclusions; they are forever in transition, but not in a hurry to become someone.'
Li Hei Di, Of Mercy to Shelter and Shield, 2024, oil on canvas, triptych, overall 55 1/8 x 139 3/4 inches
“Asif Hoque’s art always leaves me feeling uplifted and inspired. He has a talent for crafting enchanting worlds with his distinct style, reminiscent of classical Dutch Masters and Symbolist painters such as Agnes Pelton. His subjects evoke a sense of embarking on a quest, and I always want more of the story. I admire the joy and vibrancy they exude, as he often explores the interplay of light with his subjects. His use of gold is significant as it reflects his Bengali heritage, where gold symbolizes blessing at birth. Hoque merges art historical themes of illuminated painting, mythological narratives, and his cultural background to create immersive realms where dignified Brown deities and revered beings flourish in the natural world. His work is perfect for collectors who enjoy the classics yet desire a contemporary gaze.”
Asif Hoque (Bangladeshi-American, b. 1991) GOLDENBOY (PRAY FOR YOU), 2024 Oil on Linen 80” x 72” (203 x 183 cm) Unique
“The fall art fair season in New York kicks off with the 30th edition of The Armory Show! As the city comes alive with artistic events, explore our curated highlights from the week:
Paula Modersohn-becker: Ich Bin Ich | Neue Galerie - The work of a pioneering artist who subverted conventions in her bold depictions of the nude, self-portraits, and still-lifes.
Platform (The Armory Show) | The Javits Centre - Get ready for large-scale works on ‘art historical reverberations in the present’. After their inventive Surrealist booth at this year’s Art Basel, we’re excited to see how Jeffrey Deitch takes on this theme!
Josh Kline: Social Media | Lisson Gallery - The artist’s inaugural exhibition critiques self-obsession and workforce instability through self-portraits, reflecting on today’s artistic conditions.
Hilary Pecis: Warm Rhythms | David Kordansky Gallery - A solo exhibition featuring new paintings that explore the Southern California landscape, intricately patterned still lifes, and evocative scenes from both the interiors and exteriors of the artist’s world.
Edra Soto: Graft | Public Art Fund Installation At Central Park - A new sculptural series on display at 60th Street and 5th Avenue near Central Park based on ‘rejas’ a monument to working class Puerto Rican communities.”
