Intersect Aspen is making its way back to Colorado this week. From July 31 to August 4, the art fair will host 31 galleries from 21 cities around the world at the Aspen Ice Garden, with a host of programming in accompaniment. Several brand new works will be on display, including pieces from Timothy Cummings, with the Nancy Hoffman Gallery, and James Barron Art will have art from Vera Girivi and Elisabetta Zangrandi on view for the very first time.
Several artists have created works especially for Intersect Aspen, including Holland Cunningham and Xevi Sola, with Voltz Clarke Gallery, Matt Kleberg’s four new paintings being shown with HESSE FLATOW.
Additionally, Earth Force Climate Command will have an Earth Pod displayed at the entrance throughout the fair, with groupmembers handing out Colorado wildflower seed bombs and encouraging visitors to protect the planet. While presenting a collection of global artists, the fair is deeply connected with the local Aspen community, featuring several Colorado-based artists.
Whitewall had the opportunity to speak with Becca Hoffman, Managing Director of Intersect Art and Design, to hear what not to miss.
John Okulick, “High Water,” 2022, painted wood, 25 x 22 x 3.5 in (63 x 55 x 8 cm), courtesy of Nancy Hoffman Gallery and Intersect Art and Design.
WHITEWALL: This is the second year Intersect Aspen has been held in person. Are there any things you learned from last year about the event that you’re changing this year?
BECCA HOFFMAN: Last year’s inaugural edition of Intersect Aspen was a unique moment in time where the Fair came together in less than three months and was considered more like a pop up. This year we are so pleased to return to the Ice Garden for our second edition of Intersect Aspen with a proper runway to be able to plan a robust program of artist talks, home tours, cocktail parties, and collaborative events with local cultural partners.
Aleksandar Duravcevic, “Youth,” 2021, chemically treated stainless steel, 15.75 x 15.75 in (40 x 40 cm), courtesy of TOTAH and Intersect Art and Design.
WW: How do you balance representing local Colorado exhibitors with those from around the world?
BH: It is absolutely important to us at Intersect that we are not just a citywide cultural event that comes to town once a year; but one that is engaged year-round with the community through connections, support, activations, and much more. That starts with having a strong local and regional gallery support system—we’re very happy to have Casterline|Goodman, Hexton, and Galerie Maximillian from Aspen; and K Contemporary from Denver, in this year’s Fair–along with a broad cross-section of national and international galleries showcasing emerging and established contemporary and modern art.
Thomas Jackson, “Flags no. 1, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Oregon, 2019, archival pigment print, courtesy of Jackson Fine Art and Intersect Art and Design.
WW: There are a few galleries that are returning to Intersect Aspen this year. Are there any in particular that stood out to you?
BH: A selection of contemporary galleries returning this year are bringing work specifically created for the Fair which will provide an opportunity for exciting new discoveries from Andrea Joyce Heimer and Hiejin Yoo at Half Gallery to Matt Kleberg at Hesse Flatow to Aleksandar Duravcevic and Mara De Luca at TOTAH and Xevi Sola from Voltz Clarke.
More on the modern side, the Picassos at Gmurzynska and the Dzubas at William Shearburn promise to be a delight to see in person.
WW: Can you share some highlights of first-time exhibitors?
BH: I am excited to see the works of Suchitra Mattai, who will be having a show at the ICA San Francisco in 2023 and will be doing a booth talk at K Contemporary on Tuesday August 2nd at 1:30pm.
Also looking forward to seeing the James Little works at Louis Stern Fine Arts, loved his piece at the Whitney Biennal!
On a more intimate scale, the tabletop Beverly Pepper sculptures at James Barron will be fun to see.
And locally, I am looking forward to seeing the Christo works on view both at the Hexton booth at the Fair and at their gallery in town.
Holly Cunningham, “The Landing,” 2022, oil on board, 24 x 24 in (61 x 61 cm), courtesy of Voltz Clarke Gallery and Intersect Art and Design.
WW: What makes Intersect Aspen stand out in comparison to your other cultural events—Intersect Palm Springs, and SOFA Chicago?
BH: Intersect Aspen is a curated jewel box of a fair in a majestic mountain town with a highly connected and engaged collector community. Unique in scale and involvement, Aspen is truly unparalleled.
WW: What artists are new to Intersect this year that you’re excited to see?
BH: Over at Perrotin, their solo show of brand new work by the Japanese artist ob will be a major draw.
The paper sculptures by German artist Angela Glajcar at Friedrichs Pontone are a delicate dance of depth, dynamism, and deft craftsmanship.
Karin Davie’s works at CHART are an immersive and peaceful artistic exploration that seem like a perfect opportunity for the viewer to get lost in their movement and motion.
Kelly Lynn Jones, “California dust,” 2021, acrylic, oil and oil stick on canvas, 44 x 32 in (112 x 81 cm), courtesy of The Pit and Intersect Art and Design.
WW: Are there any solo or themed booths we should keep an eye out for?
BH: Don’t miss the solo booth of Chambers Fine Art with Fu Xiaotong — these intricate webs of delicate hole piercings onto paper conjuring up life energy and its cyclical nature.
Also over at the Pit, the works of Kelly Lynn Jones will present a pleasing mix of texture, scale, color, and more.
And the thematically appropriate booth for a summertime art fair in the mountains at Nancy Hoffman Gallery – Nature’s bounty – will feature works by Timothy Cummings, Nathalia Edenmont, and Katerina Lanfranco, among others.
Joseph Raffael, “Rose Diptych,” 1986, oil on canvas, 13 x 19 in (33 x 48 cm), courtesy of Nancy Hoffman Gallery and Intersect Art and Design.
WW: How has Intersect Aspen grown or changed with the move to an in-person fair?
BH: In the virtual space, our Fair was quite extensive as there is no limit to the number of galleries who can participate on a website — no walls nor financial constraints. With our move in 2021 to an in-person Fair at the Aspen Ice Garden, we have been able to create a curated boutique Fair both in our inaugural edition and for this year. It is a pleasure to be able to support the local cultural community in person as well.
WW: Outside of the fair, what are you looking forward to seeing/doing/experiencing in Aspen in early August?
BH: Hiking up Aspen Mountain! Best way to start the day.
Also I cannot wait to see Gaetano Pesce’s My Dear Mountains at the Aspen Art Museum and the newly opened Resnick Center for Bayer Studies on the campus of the Aspen Institute.
No trip to Aspen is complete with a visit to the cheese counter at Meat & Cheese, a martini, and some oysters at Clark’s Oyster Bar and of course a swim in the pool at the Meadows.
Michael Gregory, “A Certain Slant of Light,” 2021, oil on canvas, 52 x 60 in (132 x 152 cm), courtesy of Nancy Hoffman Gallery and Intersect Art and Design.
