Janis Cecil, Founder of New York’s revered JGC Fine Art, is a spirited art advisor, curator, and art historian with more than 25 years of profound experience as a gallerist and art dealer. The visionary Cecil has spearheaded the placement of critical artworks by luminaries including Francis Bacon, Jean-Michel Basquiat, John Chamberlain, Chu Teh-Chun, and many more. During a bountiful month in which global art fairs are unveiled across the vibrant city, Cecil shares with Whitewall her excitement for discovering new creatives and enjoying a sumptuous bite at Restaurant Daniel.
Portrait of Janis Cecil at Restaurant Daniel.
WHITEWALL: Within your role as the founder of JGC Fine Art, what are you looking forward to in New York in May during the fairs?
JANIS CECIL: Fashion may have one special day in May, but the art world has three weeks of international art fairs, exciting gallery exhibitions, and the most important modern and contemporary auctions to ignite the imagination, electrify dreams, and even empty a wallet or two.
As art fairs have matured and specialized, I look forward to discovering new artists at 1-54, the only fair devoted to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. Founded by Touria El Glaoui over ten years ago, the fair now has three editions a year, critically adding new voices and insights with each iteration.
The New Art Dealers Alliance Fair has been near to my heart since its inception in 2002. The sheer fun of a NADA fair is often equaled by the quality and range of work on view.
Frieze at The Shed will have a number of exciting solo presentations and feature a variety of works by Venice Biennale stars.
The Artist Plate Project, curated by Michelle Hellman to benefit the Coalition for the Homeless, debuts a series of new limited-edition artist plates at Frieze. As a member of the Art Advisory Board for the Coalition’s Artwalk NY, the annual gala benefit to be held this October, I am especially looking forward to new plates by Lorna Simpson, Hank Willis Thomas, and Ed Ruscha to add to my growing collection.
“Fashion may have one special day in May, but the art world has three weeks of international art fairs,” — Janis Cecil
WW: What do you have your eye on at the fairs?
JC: Since I am not shy to admit that I am a painting person, it will be a thrill to see Marc Dennis’s spectacular new floral compositions at Harper’s in the Galleries sector at NADA.
Kates-Ferri will present Peruvian conceptual artist C.J. Chueca’s nocturnes and ceramics in the NADA Projects section.
WW: What are the exhibitions on your must-see list?
JC: Rita Ackermann at Hauser and Wirth, Joanna Choumali at Sperone Westwater, Maurizio Cattelan at Gagosian, and Teresita Fernandez at Lehmann Maupin.
Best Spots for Refreshment in New York
WW: Where are you go-to places to grab a bite or drink after the fairs/opening?
JC: There is no place more perfect for a special drink or a sumptuous bite after the TEFAF New York preview than Restaurant Daniel at 60 East 65th Street, the Michelin-starred flagship of Chef Daniel Boulud. While there, enjoy the mini-retrospective of ten paintings and works on paper by the iconic Pop artist, James Rosenquist (1933-2017) that I curated for Daniel’s Biannual Art Program, which we founded in 2021. From a stunning 1979 painting in the Upper Lounge to the dazzling canvases of 2008, Rosenquist’s dynamic work presents a spellbinding culmination to a day of art.
For lunch before TEFAF or while gallery hopping, visit Café Boulud on East 63rd Street and Park Avenue, where I curated the restaurant with etchings and lithographs by Braque, Calder, Matisse, Miró, Picasso, and Soulages.
Inspired by NADA, and at this point decidedly hungry for Steak Tartare à la Parisienne, I look forward to visiting my installation of Marc Dennis’s contemporary floral paintings at Le Gratin, Chef Daniel Boulud’s bistro Lyonnais with an authentic Art Nouveau interior, at the Beekman Hotel.
Janis Cecil’s 7 New York Favorites:
1. Discovering New Artists at 1-54 New York
Jean David Nkot, “Po.box, in the solitude of the cotton field,” 2023, Acrylic ans silkscreen printing on canvas, 160 x 250 cm.; courtesy of AFIKARIS Gallery.
On May 1 in New York, 1-54 New York opens for the first time in Chelsea’s sweeping Starrett-Lehigh Building, on view through May 4. The contemporary African art fair founded by Touria El Glaoui journeys annually from London to New York to Marrakech, exhibiting momentous contemporary artworks developed in Africa and its diaspora. This year, 32 international galleries will join forces, emerging as an energetic and multi-faceted community committed to captivating and educating visitors of all ages.
2. Revel in The Sheer Fun of NADA Fair
Emily Coan, “Study for On the Outskirts of the Forest,” 2024, Oil on panel, 12 x 16 in, 30.5 x 40.6 cm, courtesy of the artist and DIMIN.
New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) returned to New York for a resplendent tenth edition over the weekend, hosting a bevy of 92 up-and-coming young galleries. Artists from South Korea, Detroit, and Montreal congregated at 548 West in Chelsea, celebrating modern art in all of its profundity and absurdity.
3. Explore the Artist Plate Project to Benefit the Coalition for the Homeless
Nina Chanel Abney, “Untitled,” 2020, for the Coalition for the Homeless’s Artist Plate Project, 2020; courtesy of the Coalition for the Homeless.
Launched with the Coalition for the Homeless in 2020 at the peak of the pandemic, Artist Plate Project has to-date partnered with more than 90 world-renowned artists who have created limited-edition dinner plates produced by Prospect and available via Artware Editions. Funds raised will directly benefit the Coalition for the Homeless, providing food, crisis services, housing, and other critical aid to thousands of people experiencing homelessness and instability. — Source
4. Visit Maurizio Cattelan’s “Sunday” at Gagosian
Installation view, “Maurizio Cattelan: Sunday,” Gagosian, West 21st Street, New York; Artwork © Maurizio Cattelan, Photo by Maris Hutchinson.
Curated by Francesco Bonami, luminary Maurizio Cattelan’s revelatory solo presentation “Sunday” marks the artist’s first solo show at a gallery in over 20 years, as well as his inaugural solo exhibition at the preeminent Gagosian. Recalling Cattelan’s provocative 2016 unveiling of America, an operative solid gold toilet which was positioned within New York’s Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the artist’s latest endeavor delves courageously into the overt and hazardous discrepancies of contemporary society.
5. Enjoy a Delicious Bite and Awe-Inspiring Art Presentation at Restaurant Daniel
Courtesy of Restaurant Daniel, New York.
Since opening in 1993, DANIEL has earned its place among the pillars of New York City’s bustling dining scene, receiving numerous accolades for its refined European cuisine, world-class cellar and gracious hospitality. Located in the former Mayfair Hotel on Park Avenue – the original site of Le Cirque – DANIEL is steeped in French culinary history. Building on time-honored techniques, Executive Chef Eddy LeRoux and Executive Pastry Shaun Velez present a modern, seasonal menu inspired by the finest meats, wild game, seafood, fruits, vegetables and foraged flavors from around the world. — Source
6. Tuck into Café Boulud while Gallery Hopping
Published by Café Boulud, New York.
With a foundation in classic French technique, Café Boulud offers a deliciously wide-ranging voyage of discovery in a refined setting. — Source
7. Fine Dining at Le Gratin, Chef Daniel Boulud’s bistro Lyonnais
Published by Le Gratin, New York.
Le Gratin is Chef Daniel Boulud’s Bouchon Lyonnais housed on the ground floor of The Beekman hotel in Downtown Manhattan. The casual, yet lively restaurant is inspired by the notable bouchons and bistros of Chef Daniel’s hometown of Lyon, France, known for their welcoming ambiance and soulful cuisine. — Source
