COURTESY FRIEZE
FRIEZE NEW YORK: MAY 5–8
Frieze, which turns 25 this year, will return to Randall’s Island Park for its fifth New York edition in a celebratory fashion. Along with the usual Frame, Focus, and Spotlight sections—which highlight emerging galleries, solo shows, and 20th-century art, respectively—the fair will feature six newly commissioned art interventions organized by High Line Art curator Cecilia Alemani for Frieze Projects. Among these, visitors can expect to witness performers wielding large circular mirrors held to the sky and a professional pickpocket inconspicuously gifting miniature sculptures. Frieze will also be introducing a “fast ferry service” ($19 round trip), departing from East 90th Street, which will provide attendees with an alternative to the 35th Street ferry and bus service ($8 round trip) departing from Guggenheim Museum every ten minutes. It’s recommended that visitors book tickets for these services in advance on Frieze’s website. With the exception of “very limited” valet parking ($50), and some handicapped spaces for permitted vehicles, there will be no self-parking available this year. Once again, the 103rd Street footbridge, accessible via the East River Esplanade at 103rd Street and FDR Drive, will be open to pedestrians and bikers.
May 5, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., May 6, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., May 7, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., May 8, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. One day, $45; Students and/or 17-25-year-olds (Thursday/Friday), $10; Students, $29.
PORTAL: MAY 4–10
A notable addition to Frieze Week 2016 is Portal, an emerging-artist showcase to be held in the historic Federal Hall National Memorial on Wall Street. Portal differentiates itself through its artist-centric approach: the 40 participants on display will receive 70 percent of any sales with the further 30 percent going toward administrative costs incurred by organizers 4heads (the same organization behind the Governors Island Art Fair). Located in the hub of the Financial District in Manhattan, Federal Hall is easily accessible via the 2/3/4/5 subways to Wall Street or the J/Z to Broad Street.
May 7-8, 10 a.m.-5.p.m. No ticket necessary.
NADA: MAY 5–8
The New Art Dealers Association (NADA) will enjoy its fifth New York run this year, returning to Basketball City (Pier 36, 299 South Street) on the Lower East Side. Once again, NADA will offer an array of exhibiting artists from 75 local and international galleries along with a number of special projects commissioned for the fair. NADA is best reached by subway via the F to East Broadway, or the B/D to Grand Street. Shuttles running from the New Museum will also be available.
May 5, 4 p.m.-8 p.m., May 6-7, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., May 8, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Multi-day pass $40; One day, $20; Students and seniors, $10.
1:54 CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART: MAY 6–8
For the second year in a row, 1:54 will take over Dustin Yellin’s Pioneer Works (159 Pioneer Street) in Red Hook with its mix of artistic and educational programming. This year, besides offering work by 60 artists and a variety of activities, a live video-feed connection to the Dakar Biennale will form part of a broader performance program under the fair’s FORUM wing. As way of transport, there are the 2/3/4/5 and R trains to Borough Hall, and the A/C/F to Jay Street/MetroTech. For a shorter and more scenic option, there’s the miraculous Ikea Express Shuttle water taxi (free on weekends), which departs every 50 minutes from Wall Street’s Pier 11 in Manhattan, depositing commuters a mere 15 minutes later in Red Hook.
May 6-8, 12 p.m.-8 p.m. Day Pass, $20; Student Pass, $10.
COLLECTIVE DESIGN: MAY 4–8
Beyond its function as a fair—featuring a handpicked selection of design work from established and emerging galleries across the globe—Collective Design bills itself as a platform for “compelling discourse on 20th and 21st century design.” This year’s exhibition will show work from the Cranbrook 3D Design Department, which offers responses to some of today’s most pressing social and environmental issues through design. The fair will take place at Skylight Clarkson Square (550 Washington Street, between West Houston and Spring Streets), close to the 1 subway station at Houston Street and the C/E trains at Spring Street. For those arriving by car, there’s Icon Parking located at 120 King Street (between Greenwich and Hudson Streets) and 375 Hudson Street (between West Houston and King Streets).
May 4-7, 11 A.M.-8 P.M,; May 8, 11 A.M.-5 P.M. Adult $32; Student and Senior $16.
ART NEW YORK AND CONTEXT NEW YORK: MAY 3–8
Art Miami—the self-proclaimed “preeminent producer of leading international contemporary and modern art fairs”—will present the second annual Art New York and inaugural CONTEXT New York this year at Pier 94 (711 12th Avenue). The fairs, utilizing more than 200,000 square feet together, are set to showcase pieces from nearly 1,200 artists represented by 150 galleries based nationally and internationally. Art New York will focus on “important, never-before exhibited works” while CONTEXT New York will represent primarily emerging and mid-career artists. A courtesy shuttle traveling between the Frieze ferry (located on 35th Street) and the pier will be made available during fair hours. Tickets provide admission to both fairs.
May 3, 5 p.m.—8 p.m.; May 4—7, 12 p.m.—8 p.m.; May 8, 12 p.m.—6 p.m.; One day pass $40; Multi day pass $75; Seniors (62 years +) $25; Groups of 10+ $25
FLUX: MAY 3–31
The theme for this year’s edition of the highly mobile Harlem-based art fair is “Changing Landscapes.” According to the press release, “Changing Landscapes” will investigate the “concept of landscape” through explorations including but not limited to ethnography, ecology, society, history, geography, technology, and ideology. Only on its second year, FLUX has proved an interesting alternative to other fairs participating in Frieze Week by exhibiting work from over 40 artists (over 50 percent of which are women) throughout the neighborhood’s parks and gardens.
May 3-31. No ticket necessary.
SPRING MASTERS NEW YORK: MAY 6–9
Spring Masters, a fair dedicated to international art and design, will take place at the Park Avenue Armory (643 Park Avenue) for its third year in a row. Maintaining its unique hexagonal layout, Spring Masters will continue its exploration of contrastive mediums, showing paintings by Matisse in conversation with modern tapestries and jewelry from Bulgari and Oscar Heyman. Overall, the fair will present works from approximately 60 exhibitors located throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. The fair is accessible by the 6 and F trains located at 68th Street/Hunter College and 63rd Street/Lexington Avenue, respectively.
May 6—7, 11 a.m.—7:30 p.m.; May 8—9, 11 a.m.—6 p.m.; One day pass $25 online, $30 at the door; Student one day pass $12 online, $15 at the door; Run-Of-Fair pass for unlimited entry $40 online, $50 at the door.
SALON ZÜRCHER: MAY 2–7
Salon Zürcher, a diminutive art fair held at Zürcher Gallery in NoHo (33 Bleecker Street), will open its doors again this May for Frieze week. The fair, which offers an “intimate alternative to the large-scale, superstore style fairs,” according to a press release, will showcase work from six galleries based in Brussels, Paris, and New York. On opening night, Zürcher will host a Dada-inspired performance from Bonnie Tchien Hwen–Ying at 6:30 p.m. The fair is close to the Bleecker Street 6 train station.
May 2, 5 p.m.—8 p.m.; May 3, 12 p.m.—8 p.m.; May 4, 12 p.m.—6 p.m.; May 5-7, 12 p.m.—8 p.m.; May 8, 12 p.m.—5 p.m.; No ticket necessary.