If you are looking for inspiration, escapism, or altogether a different visualization experience, the Armory Art Show usually doesn’t disappoint. I have not been to the show since pre-pandemic and was please to know that the show has been moved to the Javits Center, shifting its schedule to early September. The show is unconventional and eye-catching, fostering emerging art trends and new up-and-coming artists of every continent, all in one place to see…

 

   A Bit about the Armory Art Show 

The show seeks to attract curators, museum professionals and worldwide collectors over a 5-day schedule, along with opening it up to people like myself who just want to enjoy and learn about contemporary art. The show offered over 240 galleries from all over the world, giving it an international flavor with plenty of champagne stations for a bubbly break. This year the show provided for its audience a range of educational forums. In addition, it featured several curators on Latin America and Latinx Art.  In case you are wandering … “Latinx Art is art made by those of Latin America heritage who are born, live and/or work in the US” (Curator Mari Carmen Ramirez, 2022). There were also quite a bit of galleries from Africa featuring Nigeria, Kenya as well as South Africa. It also featured a section on Nonprofit Art organizations raising their profile.

 

 What I liked about the Show

 I loved, loved the location and how spacious it was without feeling a sense of overcrowding that you sometimes see in these shows, much like a bazaar. The layout among the booths could use some improvements as it could get a bit confusing to navigate through so many exhibitors. The entire show was swanky, elegant, and fun to be at with plenty of fashionistas.  The cost for admission for just one day ranges from $30 -$60.

Catching a train to Penn Station and walking over to the Javits Center with my pal Sharnita was super easy and quick. Since the show did not open til noon, we decided to have brunch at Little Spain- Hudson Yards, a couple blocks away before heading to the center.  We also made it back there for drinks and tapas before catching our train back home with much tired feet.

What about the Art?

  I loved the wide variety of art mediums exhibited by local, national, and international artists. Everything from paintings, photography, sculptures, digital and the range of mixed-media art using all kinds of recyclables. The sizes of many of the works were quite enormous (definitely not a good fit for my living room).  The vibrant colors and the messaging of everything from climate change to gender fluidity to social justice was an eyeopener. I also liked that they have a number of very large provocative installations from artists who I would have liked to meet and learn more about their work.

What sold ?  Hard to say. The costs for most of these works were between  $10,000- $600,000 with the average being  $30,000 and up.

The photos taken are mostly of what I found interesting, provocative, and easy to photograph (not everything is). Don’t forget to click the center of the photo for a full view.

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