Back in the City

Collectors return to New York City for the American Art Fair

After missing two annual shows due to the pandemic, the American Art Fair roared back to life May 14 to 17 at the Bohemian National Hall in New York City. Spread across three floors and featuring dozens of galleries and dealers, the American Art Fair once again brought together important paintings, drawings and sculpture with top collectors from around the country. Collectors view artwork at the Bohemian National Hall during the American Art Fair.

The opening night reception not only featured a packed house, it also included a number of early sales in a variety of categories, from modernism and folk art to Golden Age Illustration and the Hudson River School to the Wyeth Family. Art highlights included a beautiful work on paper by Edward Hopper from Hirshl & Adler, a bustling city scene by Colin Campbell Cooper at Debra Force Fine Art, J.C. Leyendecker illustration from the American Illustrators Gallery and magnificent still life works from D. Wigmore Fine Art. Other participating galleries include Graham Shay 1857, Keny Galleries, Kraushaar Galleries, Meredith Ward Fine Art, Questroyal Fine Art, Somerville Manning Gallery, Thomas Colville Fine Art and others. Chatham Square by Colin Campbell Cooper on view at Debra Force Fine Art.

American Art Fair director Catherine Sweeney Singer with American Fine Art Magazine co-publisher Adolfo Castillo.

Other events included a series of lectures which was kicked off by Crawford Alexander Mann III, the Telfair Museums curator who spoke on John Singer Sargent, James Abbott McNeill Whistler and Murano glass and how the three intersected in Venice, Italy. Other subjects included cubism, the Transcendental Painting Group and Milton Avery.

The fair’s director, Catherine Sweeney Singer, called the event a success. “It’s just been so good to see everyone again,” she says.

Plans are already underway for the 2023 edition. —