Interview: What You Can Expect from the 2019 Artexpo New York

Photo: Redwood Media Group

As an artist, there are many ways to get your work noticed. But one of the best practices continues to be through art fairs and marketplaces. Here, you (or your gallery) can interface with people interested in your work and build relationships that will last a lifetime.

Since 1978, Artexpo New York has been the place for galleries and art dealers to sell contemporary masterpieces. Artexpo’s rich 41-year history has seen many artistic styles and buying trends. They have helped support booming industries, such as affordable limited edition artist prints that came into vogue during the 1980s. “Andy Warhol’s environmental series of prints made their debut to good exposure at Artexpo New York,” Linda Mariano, the Managing Director of Marketing for Redwood Media Group, tells My Modern Met. (Redwood Media Group is the owner/producer of Artexpo New York.) Beyond that, Artexpo has aided in many galleries in becoming successful by getting their offerings in front of many, many people.

“The early days of Artexpo were remarkable,” Mariano shares, “because it was literally made by the movers and shakers who created a market that had not previously existed, complete with artists who became international stars.” The art marketplace grew in name and moved to increasingly larger spaces that would, every year, have special events that took place. One year, Mariano says, “Rocky Aoki commissioned his Rolls Royce to be painted by Rick Garcia as an ode to wildlife conservation, and it was proudly displayed at Arica Hilton’s Golden Pearls booth.”

As the world continues to change, moving through economic booms and crashes, Artexpo has evolved. “It is a living, breathing organism,” Mariano says. “The energy is palpable on set-up day right up until the last hour on Sunday. Emerging and established, contemporary and traditional, galleries and artists are glad to have a place to strut their stuff in the art capital of the world, even if just for a few days.”

The 2019 Artexpo New York is going on from April 4 to 7 at Pier 90. Mariano told us more about this year’s show, including how long she recommends you spend at the international art fair as well as what you can expect. Read on for our exclusive interview.

Going to Artexpo New York this year? Scroll down to get an inside look of what you can expect when you're there!

Photo: Redwood Media Group

What can visitors to Artexpo expect when they arrive, both in terms of atmosphere and work they’ll see?

Artexpo New York is considered the world’s largest international fine art marketplace and the longest running fair in the USA. No other show hosts a larger selection of artists, museums, galleries, and publishers, attending from a total of more than 50 countries around the world—representing the broadest spectrum of international art and global trends today. Due to this international melting pot of art aficionados under one roof, the atmosphere is vibrant and exciting, with everyone in attendance, from collectors and general art enthusiasts, keen to see what the latest trends are and what the world’s best artists and galleries are competing with. Artexpo New York brings a cutting-edge arena of eclectic talent waiting to be discovered.

Our annual fine art destination will once again offer Three Shows Within One Venue at the heart of Midtown Manhattan, across 80,000 square feet of uninterrupted convention space within a newly renovated Pier 90. Artexpo New York will host more than 300 innovative exhibiting artists, galleries, and publishers, representing 1,000+ artists, showcasing original artwork, prints, paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, ceramics, giclee, lithographs, and glass works among other contemporary and fine art.

Photo: Redwood Media Group

(continued) Hosting more than 35,000 avid art enthusiasts, including 5,000+ trade representatives every year, Artexpo New York is the largest international gathering of qualified trade buyers—including gallery owners and managers, art dealers, interior designers, architects, corporate art buyers, and art and framing retailers. Attendees will have an opportunity to browse thousands of innovative new works of art and enjoy education seminars, cocktail parties, live entertainment, and other special events. Our sister show, [SOLO] offers established and emerging independent artists the opportunity to showcase their work on an international stage and has become the ultimate venue for independent artists to be discovered—not only by gallery owners and art publishers but also by collectors and enthusiasts. [FOTO SOLO] includes collections of fine art photography by some of the world’s most acclaimed independent photographers that always creates a buzz before, during, and after the four-day exhibit.

Our Spotlight Program provides collectors with a focused look at several prominent artists and galleries that will each be creating a site-specific exhibition. This year’s Topics & Trends Education Program, which includes three days of notable speakers and panel discussions, is offering expert perspectives on a wide variety of subjects.

Photo: Redwood Media Group

How does the theme of “Transform” play into the works on display?

To celebrate 41 years of excellence in art, Artexpo New York presents [TRANSFORM] as the curatorial theme for 2019–examining the power of art, how it challenges the status quo, changes our perceptions, and pushes us to see ourselves and others from a new perspective. Through its power, art transforms.

This artistic ethos is not only given to the exhibitors for consideration when they choose their own work for presenting at the show, but it forms a thread for discussion throughout our Topics & Trends Education Program that will include moderated panels on subjects such as “Trending In Today's Art World,” “Success Secrets of Amazing Fine Art Photographers,” “Copyright and Trademark Law,” “Origins of Inspiration,” “Art Law: Certificates of Authenticity and Limited Editions,” “Artist Fame and Fortune: Turning What You Love Into A Viable Career,” “Choosing A Career In The Arts,” “Art Licensing,” “Artist Fame and Fortune: Key Elements of Success,” and “Media Transections & Contemporary Photography Influences.”

For 41 years and counting, Artexpo New York has changed how people buy and sell art. This year, we will undergo our own evolution as the show moves to Pier 90, giving our exhibitors a newly renovated stage to champion the transformative power of art.

Photo: Redwood Media Group

How long would you recommend walking around at Artexpo?

It’s very hard to say. People like to go at their own pace. Some people will take a day in an attempt to see every exhibitor, but to really relish the work at Artexpo New York, we encourage people to take everything in on the first day, to see which are the most interesting exhibitors, and then return for a second day to interact with the gallery owners or artists themselves and enter in to a conversation about specific pieces they may be interested in. Getting to know the talents we showcase at Artexpo New York on a personal level will enlighten and engage the attendee, so they fully understand the creativity, process, and often life experience, behind the art.

Photo: Redwood Media Group

Who will be appearing in Art Labs? Can you elaborate on one of the works that will be there?

As part of the interactive schedule of programming, this year’s Artexpo New York will include an Art Lab entitled the Discoveries Collection. This is a series of unique works hand-picked by Artexpo’s curatorial team, priced at $5,000 or less, marked by a special Discoveries Collection logo throughout the show. Attendees will just have to wait and see which exclusive, and sometimes hidden, works have been chosen for this year.

Photo: Redwood Media Group

How does an artist or gallery get involved in Artexpo in the future?

We take great pride in our selection process; not only for Artexpo New York but for all of the fairs we produce around the country. Our selection committee accepts thousands of applications for each fair year-round and has a dedicated group of experts who evaluate each gallery and their collections or the individual artist’s work.

With the standard and quality of art increasing each year, so too does our selection process, so our fairs always remain at the forefront of excellence within the industry. We look for originality, innovation, and diversity in our exhibitors and artists. Artwork that always leaves something to the imagination and that is open to interpretation will encourage discussion and opinion, which is always appealing for an exhibition and its attendees.

Art is subjective, but there are always a vast number of collections that are unquestionably superb, and we are sometimes dealt with a tough choice when having to pass on some excellent exhibitors that are very appealing. Although we have 80,000 square feet of exhibition space for Artexpo New York, we are somewhat limited, so we cannot accept everyone who applies. We always try to be fair and give everyone an equal chance of showing their work.