Salon Art + Design opened its 14th edition Thursday night at the Park Avenue Armory, with close to 3,000 enthusiastic visitors eager to find the curated, high-quality pieces the design fair is known for. As in years past, Salon Art + Design partnered with The Dia Foundation, and proceeds from opening night will go to supporting Dia.
“We are thrilled that ticket sales exceeded the goal, raising vital funds for Dia,” said Dia Art Foundation Director Jessica Morgan. “For many years this special preview has supported our program and we are deeply grateful to Salon Art + Design for their continued generosity and partnership.”
Designers, collectors and high profile shoppers, including Dia Chairman of the Board Nathalie de Gunzburg, Jeremy Anderson, Paul Arnhold, Elizabeth Callendar and Renee Rockefeller admired the offerings in over fifty booths.
“I love the unexpected juxtapositions this year,” said art dealer Dominique Levy, of Levy Gorvy Dayan. “Usually it’s much more clean and orderly, but this year every booth feels like a salon, and it really makes a difference in my enjoyment of the show.”
There was great enthusiasm among the vendors, reconnecting with long-term clients and greeting newcomers.
“I’ve been exhibiting at the Salon Art + Design for at least ten years,” said dealer Liz O’Brien. “There has always been a core group of clients who wouldn’t miss it; they come from Texas, they come from California, and they make this a week in New York – the contemporary auctions are up.”
“This year, we are excited to have these works by the Irish basket maker Joe Hogan,” O’Brien continued. “We have three of his pouches; we have a couple of his pods, and two of his nests. We are also showing these beautiful works in acrylic by Sasha Sykes, incorporating layered botanicals from her garden.”
Both UK jewelry designer Cora Sheibani and Polish furniture and accessories conglomerate Craftica were new to the fair.
“I was invited to participate in Salon Art + Design, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to come back to New York and finally do a fair in a group setting rather than on my own,” said Sheibani. “I’ve been designing for 23 years. In my latest collection, I’ve been doing a lot of work with different ways that you can facet stones, and I have also done a full collection of pearls. There are so many interesting colors of pearls: purple, green, yellow, teal, gray. I call the collection ‘Skin Deep’”.
“It’s our first time exhibiting in the United States, and we are super excited to be here,” said Craftica’s Magda Bulera. “We were told the American public is very design-savvy, and we believe there is a market here for what we are presenting. We specialize in Polish design and craftsmanship. One of our star pieces is a red lacquer desk designed by French architect Patrice Nourissat, which was actually made by Polish artisan Miroslaw Kowalczyk. We sometimes like to collaborate with foreign designers, but we make sure the artisans who build the pieces are Polish.”
Beth Rudin DeWoody, Jill Kargman, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, John Hamm and Jonathan and Lizzie Tisch greeted each other and traded opinions of their favorite finds.
“I have seen may things I like today,” said designer Robert Stillin. “I love the pair of Royere chairs and the Line Vautrin bowl at Chastel Marechal, a dining table at David Gill that’s hand made out of wood, and a stunning Gio Ponte coffee table at Karl Kemp. I have always found things here for clients – I think it’s the best design fair in New York.”
Fe and Alessia Fendi did a tour, as did the Cultivist’s Marlies Verhoeven, art Advisor Kim Heirston, and John and Christine Gachot. Architect and Designer Richard Mishaan was impressed with the offerings.
“There are lots of things I really love this year,” said Mishaan. “The Joy de Rohan-Chabot mirrors with the thorns and the 3D flowers – they are Le Gall meets Lallanne, so beautiful. They also have a Quinet set of furniture, two side chairs and a little settee, that’s spectacular. I’ve never seen Quinet that’s not lacquered. The Osanna Visconti bamboo furniture at Maison Gerard is outstanding. Each piece is cast by hand.”
Opening night was a big hit, and the anticipation for collectors was worth it. As Salon Art + Design put it, “It’s the best place to see and buy design in New York. Everything is high quality.”
Salon Art + Design will continue through Monday, November 10.