Report from ArtExpo New York
ArtExpo New York is a phenomenon. It is a serious trade show for the art business community. Its interesting for the general public I'm sure, but this is where the rubber hits the road for artist career advancement. Galleries, publishers, agents and art entrepreneurs of all kinds are scouting for whats hot and who's hot.
Yes, the galleries and artists may tend toward the commercial side of fine art - but there was some excellent and exciting art here and some big deals being made - and there is nothing wrong with paying your bills. Our neighbor very discretely signed a contract for $200,000 and sold several paintings to boot. Veterans of the Expo asked their clients to come visit them, enjoy the show, and select a piece from the booth. We smiled and chatted and before we left had two very exciting deals offered that made the whole event worth while. Everyone enouraged and coached us and we listened eagerly - commoradery was high. Post event drinks and dinners with artists and art dealers was wonderful bonding time.
April Game and Sinclair Stratton posing in our booth in front of Sinclair's exquisite foray into painting humans, "Fierce Love" (right) and the gorgeously painted iguanna "Iggy" (left)
Kate McCavitt and Sinclair Stratton posing with Sinclair's newly-acquired painting in Kate's spectacularly rich and exotic booth at ArtExpo New York.
ArtExpo New York is not to be taken lightly. The artists in the SOLO section stood out for their sheer professionalism and readiness for the next step. One mistake that was sited to us was that many artists who come their first year don't return. Big mistake! Consistancy shows that you are a stable, known quantity. You want someone to see you this year and remember you when they come back next year. My strong recommendation to anyone who is sick of struggling is to figure out how you can get into the SOLO section of ArtExpo and come back every year.
Entrance to ArtExpo New York at Jacob Javits Convention Center
I offer my sincere thanks to Debby Kuhn and Art Business News and everyone who put on ArtExpo. Well done.
