The Armory Show Collectors’ Dinner Gathered the Art World’s Most Influential

The Armory Show Collectors’ Dinner Gathered the Art World's Most Influential

As pointed out by Vogue editors, there are now more Fashion Weeks than actual weeks in the year. In recent times, it’s beginning to feel the same way with art fairs. However, for 25 years strong, the Armory Show has remained an anchor of modern and contemporary art in the New York art scene, a commercial cut above the rest. What started in New York’s Gramercy Park Hotel with a handful of anti-establishment gallerists has ballooned into a multi-exhibitor, multi-day, multi-pier circus on the radar of every major gallery, collector, and art aficionado around the world. Before the annual art fair kicks off, there is the Armory Show Collectors’ Dinner, an invite-only dinner party for collectors, gallerists, curators, and artists. If you’re a mover and a shaker in today’s art market, you’ll have a seat at the dinner. Chance encounters at this event may lead to multimillion-dollar art acquisitions, new gallery shows, or mega-museum retrospectives. It’s an artistic power broker’s playground.

To celebrate the Armory Show’s 25th anniversary and the important people who make it happen, the dinner, at Manhattan’s Bowery Hotel, was set on the eve of the fair’s opening. The host of the evening was Nicole Berry, the Armory Show’s executive director. Berry, who was appointed to the position in late 2017, has been making strides to evolve the Armory Show. Before dinner, she sat down with Vogue to discuss this year’s Armory Show highlights. Wearing a black embellished Ted Baker dress paired with Vhernier jewelry, Berry explained, “I’m excited that this year there is a focus for a lot of galleries on female artists. Whether it’s Fiona Rae at Nathalie Obadia Gallery or all female artists at Johann König Galerie. There’s also Jorinde Voigt at David Nolan Gallery. Usually there’s a theme, but organically this year it’s all about female artists.”

In addition to the long-overdue emphasis on diversity, a major theme of this year’s anniversary Armory Show is honoring the founders of the fair. And 200 guests gathered at the Collectors’ Dinner to do just that. With a cocktail reception to start, attendees toasted with flutes of Pommery Champagne in the castle-like ambience of the Bowery’s upstairs terrace. Most were dressed in black and shades of red, hemlines were unconventional, and horn-rimmed spectacles abounded. Following the cocktail hour, there was a spectacular dinner. Art titans such as Jessica Silverman, Marianne Boesky, and Max Mara’s Maria Giulia Maramotti brushed shoulders as artists like Ryan Gander, Alyson Shotz, and Mariko Mori dined at long, flower-adorned tables.

To the dismay of some, art fairs have become somewhat of a spectacle, with street-style photographers, Champagne bars, VIP lounges, and increasingly pricey entry fees. The first day of the Armory Show is private for collectors and media, and it’s when deals are made and acquisitions are completed. The latter days are open to the public, when art appreciators and peacocking influencers can strut down the dizzying aisles of galleries. It’s an opportunity for exhibitors to raise awareness, sell work, foster relationships, and boast their latest rosters of artists. Criticisms aside, art fairs like the Armory Show are a rare treat for the masses to view and discover both established and emerging talent. The Armory Show pushes the boundaries of what the public perceives as art and exposes bleeding-edge forms to artistic novices. On how to navigate the fair and shop for art, Berry recommends: “People need to expose themselves to art to develop their eye and figure out what they’re drawn to… Don’t be intimidated. An art fair is not a place to be intimidated. And don’t be afraid to ask questions!”