The Armory Show spotlights Caribbean artists and galleries
New York’s biggest art fair has revamped its footprint to place artists of the Caribbean and its diasporas in the foreground, as well as stalwarts of the hometown scene
The Armory Show, an annual contemporary art exhibition, is showcasing the work of Caribbean artists and galleries in its 2023 edition. The fair, held from September 24-27 at the Javits Center, features around 230 galleries from over 30 countries, with a special focus on the Caribbean and its diasporas.
In the south entrance, visitors will find a collection of galleries and artists from the Caribbean region and the wider Americas, including El Apartamento, a Havana-founded gallery featuring a group exhibition of Cuban artists. Other notable standouts include Haitian American artist Kathia St. Hilaire's solo presentation, California-based painter Shara Mays, and Brazilian artist Antonio Luiz Morais de Andrade.
Meanwhile, the north entrance emphasizes galleries from the US, particularly New York, highlighting the city's significant role in contemporary art. New York-based exhibitors include Sean Kelly, Norr Cohan, Miles McEnery Gallery, Hollis Taggart, Marc Straus Gallery, and Dimin. International dealers such as Templon, Mennour, Victoria Miro, Ben Brown Fine Arts, and Nara Roesler will also be present.
Younger galleries taking part in the fair, established within the last 12 years, have seen a 20% increase in representation compared to last year. The Presents and Solo sections, dedicated to galleries and solo artists respectively, have expanded by a similar margin. Notable new participants include Adegbola Gallery from Lagos, Amanita and Management, Catinca Tabacaru, and Rajiv Menon Contemporary.
The Armory Show's director, Kyla McMillan, explains that the Caribbean and its diasporas were chosen as the fair's geographic theme due to the region's importance as a connecting point for the Americas. The Caribbean-themed sections, Platform and Focus, take different approaches to exploring the region's art. The Platform section, curated by Jovanna Venegas, examines architecture, materiality, and resourcefulness through sculpture and installation, while the Focus section, curated by María Elena Ortiz, showcases artists living in the Caribbean and those influenced by migration and diasporic communities.
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