In mid-May, 18 premier galleries and art dealers presented a curated selection of fine art at the Bohemian National Hall on New York’s Upper East Side, an elegant but comfortable setting that encouraged engagement and conversation. More than 700 guests attended the opening night preview of the American Art Fair, and as an attendee myself, I can attest it was a lively affair filled with enthusiastic exhibitors, collectors, museum curators and other members of the fine art community.
William Merritt Chase (1849-1916), The Common, Central Park, New York, circa 1889. Oil on panel, 10½ x 157⁄8 in. Courtesy Debra Force Fine Art, New York, NY.
After the event, I checked in with the exhibitors, as well as fair director Catherine Sweeney Singer, to hear heir overall impressions of the event, and inquire about notable sales.
“Most exciting is that our new exhibitor, the Illustrated Gallery, made a major sale at the preview and a sale the day after the fair closed,” says Sweeney, referring to Norman Rockwell’s The Hayseed Critic, which had an asking price of $1,560,000.
While perhaps not Rockwellian in scale, many of the dealers fared quite well over the four-day event and in its aftermath. Debra Force Fine Art has been an exhibitor at The American Art Fair for 18 years. “Because of the specialized focus on historic American art, it is a destination for private collectors and museum personnel in this field, and that is reflected in the nuanced conversations that we have there compared to other shows,” says Force. “The crowd that comes through tends to be very knowledgeable about what they are looking at.”
Opposite: Richard Edward Miller (1875-1943), Young Woman at Her Dressing Table. ca. 1912-14. Oil on canvas, 315⁄8 x 25 ½ in., signed lower right. Courtesy Godel & Co. Fine Art, Bedford, NY.
Martha Walter (1875-1976), Refreshment in the Garden. Oil on canvas, 19¼ x 23½ in., signed lower left. Courtesy Hawthorne Fine Art, New York, NY.
She also noted that visitors this year represented a broader swath of the country, likely because there were so many major art shows, events and auctions also happening in the city, and that “attendance was solid throughout the fair and business was being done on the floor and after the fair closed.” They were pleased to report several sales including a Harry Bertoia sound sculpture, a William Merritt Chase view of Central Park, a John Marin watercolor and an Edward Moran seascape.
Hawthorne Fine Art is newer to the fair, 2026 marking their third year of participation. The gallery sold Refreshment in the Garden, a vibrant still life by American impressionist Martha Walter. “It was a booth favorite,” says senior researcher Megan Bongiovanni. “The sale technically happened after show hours, so never lose hope when closing. There may still be an admirer milling about!”
Norman Rockwell (1894-1978), Hayseed Critic, 1928 (Saturday Evening Post cover). Oil on canvas, 30 ¼ x 24 in., signed lower right. Courtesy The Illustrated Gallery, Fort Washington, PA.
Howard Godel of Godel & Co. shares, “It was a great turnout…We saw many clients, dealers and old friends, and met some new people as well. We were pleased, and there is interest in additional paintings which may sell in the next few weeks, or months.” One highlight for the gallery was the sale of Richard Edward Miller’s portrait Young Woman at Her Dressing Table, circa 1912 to 1914.
It was Helicline Fine Art’s first year at the fair and gallery co-owner Keith Sherman couldn’t have been more pleased with the experience. “We just loved every minute of it,” says Sherman. “We met and spoke so many educated collectors, museum curators and other colleagues in the art world. There were many kindred spirits in the room. We were also approached by a number of new collectors, both young and old, who craved knowledge about American art. They warmed to the WPA-era works we exhibited, and we were happy to have our brains picked.”
The American Art Fair is presented at Bohemian National Hall, New York, NY.
Managing editor Sarah Gianelli with Vincent Vallarino of Vallarino Fine Art (far right) and Jonathan Lopez of Lopez Restorations Inc., and his wife Bianca (far left).
Other highlights throughout the show were Sommerville Manning’s post-fair sale of a work by Andrew Wyeth the gallery showcased in their booth, and Vallarino Fine Art’s sale of a 1966 oil painting by Will Barnet.
Sweeney Singer says, “We celebrated our 19th year in New York City with record attendance and standing room only [for] our four lectures by luminaries Henry Adams, Will Coleman, Betsy Kornhauser and Jeffrey Richmond-Moll—each with current exhibitions and/or forthcoming publications. We’ve just signed a new five-year lease and look forward to welcoming everyone next May for The America Art Fair’s 20th year.”
Visit www.theamericanartfair.com for updates. —
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