NYC Fair Director’s Top Picks

The Affordable Art Fair NYC Spring edition opens in just 2 weeks (May 20 – 23, 2021) at the Metropolitan Pavilion and every year before the launch of each edition Fair Director, Vanessa Seis, gives us a sneak peek of her top picks from emerging artists and unique subject-matter.

Our 29^th edition of the NYC fair is no different, read along as Vanessa takes you through her top picks of the season, perfect to get you in the mood for all the art at the fair.

Vanessa says; “Starting out at an art fair like the Affordable Art Fair, online or in-person, is perfect because it gives an overview of the contemporary art market today in an accessible price range. After a year-long hiatus, we approached this fair with the goal of re-introducing the art fair experience in a safe way to help the art market recover. We’ll be presenting a boutique selection of 40 exhibitors and exhibiting partners, predominantly hailing from the US, and a safe and easy-to-navigate layout on the ground floor of our longstanding home, the Metropolitan Pavilion.”

“I have compiled a small selection of works under $500, which gives you a good overview of what’s possible with a limited budget. Before you start diving into your first purchase, I encourage you to think about three things: Budget, space and taste. If you seriously want to start out building your own collection, take a moment and reflect on what you like and what is important to you.”

WORKS UNDER $500

“Whichever work you decide to buy, make sure you absolutely love it. That’s something that even guides the most seasoned collector. After all, you want this to be a good investment and therefore have it on your walls for as long as possible—delivering joy, inspiration and spark wonderful and stimulating conversations between you and the people you share your space with.”

A SPLASH OF COLOR

“Let’s start out with a splash of color. These first group of works drew me in because of their excellent use of color that create movement and will fill any room with energy. ‘Sunset in the Meantime’ is an absolute stunner and would be sure to enliven any space and ‘Woman in Bed’ seamlessly evokes the memory of place; I love how her vivid use of color and energetic lines provoke an emotional response to something that would otherwise be considered ordinary or mundane.”

“I’m also quite awestruck by ‘Stutter (Flow)’, this vibrantly colored and tufted abstract textile is just so much fun to look at and quite affordable at $700 for this piece. These often whimsical forms of varying sizes and color patterns can be arranged on the floor or hung on the wall.”

MINIMALIST CHIC

“The minimalist design and use of line drew me to this next selection. ‘Nine’ presents a unique vision preserving detail and contrasts within an overall minimalist aesthetic through dramatic texture. I also really enjoy the textile-based work ‘Perpetual II’ because of it’s calmness and tasteful, subtle framing. This work fuses the artist’s experience throughout her life while traveling combining the Australian relaxed lifestyle, Scandinavian soft minimalism and Japanese Wabi-Sabi philosophy. The dramatic lines and use of color blocking creates depth that directly drew me to ‘Sunbeam’, exhibiting with one of our longest standing galleries, who are actually the world’s largest publisher of contemporary Japanese limited-edition prints.”

A TOUCH OF FUN

“These last few pieces are incredibly fun and the stories behind them will make you want to stay and linger a little longer around them at the fair. I’m just in love with this beautiful piece titled ‘Mountains’ by Korean-born, New York-based artist Jongmin Joy Kim. The story behind ‘Weak Magnetic Field, iPhone 3G’ also interests me, the artist embarked on a brand-new project to visualize the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of our devices. While very small, only measuring 5 inches in height, you could decide to give it more attention by framing it with a generous mat and frame. The last piece I’ll focus on is ‘My Precarious Queendom – Cleanse’, a beautiful work whose compositions and palettes are careful choices sifted from influences such as Surrealism, socio-political works, fashion, and Abi’s heritage.”

Thanks Vanessa! To see these and 100s more affordable, contemporary artworks at the fair, make sure you snap up a ticket! With just 2 weeks to go, don’t forget to check out our Safe Fair Policies, Exhibitor Listing and What’s On page to make sure you get the most out of your visit. See you there!

Main image: Jongmin Joy Kim, Mountains, 2018, Mixed media on canvas, 30 x 40in., $3,200, SPACE776, Stand B42
Featured images from first to last, left to right:
Vanessa Seis, Fair Director of Affordable Art Fair NYC.
Christie Owen, Elements, 2020, Mixed Media on birchwood panel, 8 x 8in., $450, Lilac Gallery, Stand B20
Bernette Rudolph, Eight By Eight No. 1, 2021, Acrylic on wood cutouts mounted on wood panel, 8 x 8 x 1in., $225, ARTMIX, Stand B53
Pascal Goet, Morpho cypris, 2018, Dye sublimation print, Edition of 30, 15 x 15in., $500, Galerie l’Atelier, Stand B5
Roldan Lauzan, Hierofante – Season II, 2021, Digital Serigraph, Edition of 40 +10AP, 18.75 x 21.5in., $450, JCamejo Art, Stand B17
Anne G. Callf, A songbird who sings, 2021, Fine Art Print, Edition of 50, 24 x 24in., $420, EVART, Stand B63
JJ Galloway, Nurse Pigeon, 2021, Watercolor on archival paper, 14 x 11in., $350, JJ Galloway, Stand B61
Francisco Donoso, Trace 3, 2021, Acrylic and spray paint on paper, 15 x 22in., $500, Domingo Comms, Stand B12
Matt Mele, The Crest, 2019, Film photograph on archival pigment Sheet, Edition of 20, 16 x 12in., $400 ($425 framed), treat gallery, Stand B48
Elisa Bunge, Pure Joy II, 2019, Bronze, 5.55 x 4.75 x 2.5in., Edition of 25, $500, Marisol Art NYC, Stand B36
Todd Clark, Sunset in the Meantime, 2020, Acrylic, oil and pastel on canvas, 54 x 54 in., $4,000, Michele Mariaud Gallery, Stand B10
Mary Finlayson, Woman In Bed, 2021, Gouache on paper, 26.5 x 21in., $3,200, JoAnne Artman Gallery, Stand B39
Loraine Lynn, Stutter (Flow), 2019, Tufted yarn and monk cloth, 48 x 25in., $700, River House Arts, Stand B44
Mauricio Morillas, Nine, 2020, Mixed media with pigments and aqua resin on wood panel_, 27 x 21in., $2,000, ARTMIX, Stand B53
Noriko Saito, Sunbeam, 2014, Dry point etching, Edition of 30, 35 x 28in., $1500, The Tolman Collection of New York, Stand B19
Carla Freschi, Perpetual II, 2020, Hand embroidery on linen, 47 x 33.5in., $2,500, Marisol Art NYC, Stand B36
Jongmin Joy Kim, Mountains, 2018, Mixed media on canvas, 30 x 40in., $3,200, SPACE776, Stand B42
Shuli Hallak, Weak Magnetic Field iPhone 3G, 2020, Mixed media, 5 x 3in., $550, Art Bond NY, Stand B32
Abi Salami, My Precarious Queendom – Cleanse, 2020, Acylic paint and gold leaf on canvas, 24 x 24in., $3,250, Gallery 1202, Stand B45