TEFAF New York Spring Will Be Postponed to an Increasingly Crowded Fall Art Calendar

New York’s May fairs are beginning to fall like dominoes. The
latest event to be called off is the fourth edition of TEFAF New
York Spring, the posh art fair at the Park Avenue Armory dedicated
to Modern and contemporary art. Organizers announced on Friday
morning that the event would be rescheduled to the fall due to
safety concerns regarding the escalating global health crisis and
statewide restrictions on gatherings of more than 50 people.

The fair was originally scheduled to run from May 8 through 11.
Instead, it will now be held from October 30 to November 4. TEFAF
benefits from the fact that it has two slots on the packed annual
calendar at the Park Avenue Armory: one in the spring and one in
the fall. But by bumping TEFAF New York Spring, which focuses on
Modern and contemporary art and design, to the fall slot, TEFAF has
made the decision to cancel TEFAF New York Fall, which focuses on
art from antiquity to the postwar period. (Presumably, the fair
will need to rename its Modern and contemporary edition something
other than TEFAF New York Spring in the Fall.)

Artnet News understands that exhibitors for the fall edition had
not yet been selected, so the fair will not need to provide refunds
to exhibitors. But not every dealer who signed up for the spring
fair will likely be able to participate during the new dates
considering the increasingly packed fall art calendar. (In addition
to already-scheduled events such as the Dallas Art Fair, Art
Brussels, and Berlin Gallery Weekend, numerous other spring events
are moving to the fall—including rumors of Art
Basel.)

“These unprecedented times are new to us all,” Sofie
Scheerlinck, managing director of TEFAF, said in a statement.
“While we cannot physically meet in these tough times, it is
beautiful to see how our art community stands united. We would like
to thank all our exhibitors, visitors, sponsors and partners for
their understanding and support. Now is the time for us all to
remain safe and healthy.”

This is not the first blow experienced by TEFAF—which has its
marquee fair in Maastricht in addition to the two editions in New
York—since the start of the health crisis. Last week, TEFAF closed the Maastricht
event four days early after a staff member from Italy’s
Tornabuoni Gallery tested positive for the virus. At least four
other exhibitors also reported symptoms, according to
reports.

In the four years since its inception, TEFAF New York Spring has
established itself as an upmarket, tony companion to Frieze New
York, featuring high price points, lush flower arrangements, and
more pearl-wearing collectors than Instagram influencers.
Exhibitors slated to participate in this year’s edition include
Acquavella, Gagosian, Perrotin, Gallery Hyundai, and David
Zwirner.

The postponement of TEFAF New York Spring comes after nearly all
museums, galleries, and cultural centers in New York closed over
the weekend and two other May fairs—Frieze New York and
1:54 New York—announced that they would cancel their 2020
editions.

The post TEFAF New York Spring Will Be Postponed to an
Increasingly Crowded Fall Art Calendar appeared first on
artnet News.