The Independent 20th Century 2023 art fair recasts the recent past with a New York state of mind.
The City hosts many contemporary art fairs, but the Independent and Independent 20th Century are very much products of New York’s own art community. It’s a deeper dig than many art fairs. It’s not too big. It’s not too small. The quality of art presented by the invited galleries is exceptional. Matthew Higgs is the founding curator.
2nd Independent 20th Century 2023
The 2nd Independent 20th Century contemporary art fair is at Cipriani South Street in the Battery Maritime Building in Manhattan’s Financial District; Thursday-Sunday, September 7-10, 2023. From $45.
This season brings more Latin artists to the forefront from the Caribbean, South America, the African Diaspora, including women and self-taught artists.
There is also a focus on Italian abstract and pop art. 🇮🇹
This is a buying opportunity for artists who might not have been exhibited in the actual 20th Century. It is part of the trend of curators and art historians shedding the blinders of the outdated euro-male-centric point of view. We are in a gold rush for Latin art. Now its relatively easy to find great work, but as the contemporary Latin canon becomes more established, collectors will have to dig ever deeper for the best work.
Dont’ Miss These Exhibits
From the Caribbean and Latin America, Corbett vs. Dempsey shows Cuban-American artist Emilio Cruz (1938-2004). 🇨🇺
Diane Rosenstein Gallery is showing Trinidad artist Kenwyn Crichlow (1951). 🇹🇹
Donald Ellis Gallery shows Native American artist Louisa Keyser (Dat So La Lee, 1829-1925), an acclaimed Washoe basket weaver. 🇺🇸
S94 Design shows beautiful ceramics by Myrtle Williams (1955) that give presence to African Diaspora women. 🇺🇸
Fridman Gallery shows work by Dindga McCannon (1947) who contributed to the influential Black Arts Movement of the 1960s-70s. 🇺🇸
Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel shows work by Brazilian painter Wanda Pimentel (1943-2019) who created Pop Art during the Brazilian military dictatorship. The Brazilian women artists are interesting for their conceptual ideas and focus on the community itself. 🇧🇷
Other exceptional women artists include Zürcher Gallery’s exhibition of Regina Bogat (1928) who worked with legends like Mark Rothko and other Abstract Expressionists in the Bowery Studio on 10th St in the 1960s. She’s now 95 and still works across the river in New Jersey.
Nahmad Contemporary is showing Marie Laurencin (1883-1956) who was one of the few Cubist women. 🇫🇷
In the self-taught arena, James Barron Art is showing Winfred Rembert (1945-2021) who learned leather work from a fellow prisoner on a Georgia chain gang. 🇺🇸
Galatea presents the US debut of Brazilian artist Miguel Dos Santos (1944) who draws on the mix of African Diaspora and South American traditions of northeastern Brazil. 🇧🇷
French international gallery Perrotin shows masterpieces by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) and Joan Miró (1893-1983). 🇪🇸
It’s wonderful to see how the definition of fine art has become much more inclusive. If we could speak with 1980s Haitian Puerto Rican art star Basquiat today, we’d have to tell him that “Samo©” is no longer. New York and The Independent get it. Great art can be made by anyone, anywhere.
Go see the show!
International Galleries
- Galleria Tommaso Calabro is from Milan, Italy. 🇮🇹
- Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel is from São Paulo & Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 🇧🇷
- Galatea is from São Paulo, Brazil. 🇧🇷
- Galerie Lelong is from New York & Paris. 🇫🇷
- Perrotin is an international French gallery. 🇫🇷
- 1/9unosunove is from Rome, Italy. 🇮🇹
- Zürcher Gallery is from New York & Paris. 🇫🇷
Get Tickets
Fair hours are:
- Vernissage (preview), Thursday, September 7 from 5-8pm. $120
- Friday-Saturday, September 8-9, from 12-8pm. $45
- Sunday, September 10, from 11am – 6pm. $45
For tickets, information and a complete exhibitors list, visit independenthq.com