Independent art fair returns to New York from September 9—12 with a new home, the recently restored Battery Maritime Building, also making its virtual debut with the first-ever Independent Online Viewing room, live through September 26. Similar to the format of the 2014 edition of the fair at the old Dia Center for the Arts, this year’s iteration will see 40 international galleries invited to share specially commissioned presentations that focus on subjects and artists relevant to the present-day.
Battery Maritime Building, courtesy of Etienne Frossard and Independent New York.
The elegant Beaux-Arts structure on South Cipriani Street, due to open in full in the upcoming months after several decades closed, proved to be the perfect spot for a fair setting. The space is now home to an expansive outdoor terrace, where fairgoers will find a café, restaurant, and bar presented in partnership with Cipriani, along with three exhibition halls accompanied by high ceilings and plenty of natural light.
“On behalf of Independent and the participating galleries, we’re delighted to be co-producing a new edition of the fair in an exceptional, open setting to welcome our loyal collectors and visitors for the first time,” said Elizabeth Dee, co-Founder of Independent.“Our new home in the magnificently restored Battery Maritime Building provides the perfect backdrop for showcasing how galleries, institutions and artists have responded to the unprecedented events of our recent history and how they will lead us forward to the future.”
Che Lovelace, “Dancer’s Ambition,” 2021, Acrylic and dry pigments on panel, 60 x 50 inches; Courtesy of the Artist and Various Small Fires, Los Angeles/Seoul.
Fairgoers can expect to find presentations from eleven newcomers, including Alexandre Gallery, BROADWAY, Matthew Brown Los Angeles, Higher Pictures Generation, Mrs., Off Paradise, The Ranch, REGULARNORMAL, ross+kramer gallery, Vito Schnabel Gallery, and Axel Vervoordt Gallery. Meanwhile, returning galleries include names like Reyes | Finn, Lisson Gallery, MAGENTA PLAINS, Derek Eller Gallery, CANADA, Karma, Peres Projects, and Galerie Eva Presenhuber.
Highlights include presentations like Various Small Fires presenting works by the Trinidadian artist Che Lovelace, an intergenerational presentation of Erik Parker and Ana Benaroya by ross+kramer gallery, and Reyes | Finn’s show of works by Nikita Gale and the late Thornton Dial, which looks at American sociopolitical issues. Other shows to look out for are REGULARNORMAL’s group presentation focused on the year of the pandemic where each work measures 20 x 20 inches, a solo show of Peter Halley from The Ranch (a new gallery located on Andy Warhol’s Montauk farm), and Parker Gallery’s survey of Maija Peeples-Bright.
Along with presenting commissioned content online, the OVR will also feature a roster of accompanying programming like a series of interviews, talks, podcasts, artist takeovers, virtual studio visits, and more than 50 exclusive editorial features.
RJ Messineo, “Monarch,” 2020, Oil on linen, 18 × 14 inches; courtesy of the artist and CANADA.
