Works by Emma Amos at Ryan Lee Gallery, Armory Show 2018
NEW YORK CITY WAS FLUSH with art fairs over the weekend and The Armory Show was the central attraction. Solo exhibitions featuring Sanford Biggers at David Castillo Gallery, Emma Amos at Ryan Lee Gallery, and Simphiwe Ndzube at Nicodim Gallery were among the more compelling sights. Staged March 8-11 at Piers 91 & 92, the annual mega-fair featured 198 galleries from 31 countries, including 66 new exhibitors.
Naomi Beckwith, a curator at MCA Chicago, chaired the inaugural Curatorial Leadership Summit convening more than 75 fellow curators, including Zoe Whitley of the Tate Modern, Helen Molesworth of MOCA Los Angeles, and Lauren Haynes of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Featuring works by artists Igshaan Adams and Cinga Samson, Blank Projects of Cape Town won the Presents Booth Prize, which was juried by Beckwith and collector Pamela Joyner, among others.
The following highlights feature notable works on view at booths around The Armory Show and select sales news culled from coverage published by a variety of media outlets based on self-reporting from galleries. Next year, The Armory Show is March 7-10, 2019.
Jeffrey Deitch, NY: “So Close” (2018), a monumental installation by French artist JR greeted visitors at the entrance to The Armory Show. Part of the Platform section of the fair, curated by Jen Mergel, the work features images of Syrians, refugees JR met at Zaatari camp, on the Syria-Jordan border. | Courtesy The Armory Show
READ MORE about JR’s project on Artsy. He says: “The real process of my work is to actually connect people. I wish I could bring these people here physically, but they cannot travel—they’re stuck in a camp, they can’t enter Jordan and yet can’t go back to Syria. So I’m bringing their images, and I’m bringing a discussion.”
Nicodim Gallery, Los Angeles and Bucharest, Romania: From left, Artists Naudline Pierre and SIMPHIWE NDZUBE, standing before a solo exhibition of Ndzube’s works. | Courtesy The Armory Show, Photo by BFA
Nicodim Gallery, Los Angeles and Bucharest, Romania: Installation view of Simphiwe Ndzube solo exhibition at The Armory Show 2018. | via Nicodim Gallery on Instagram
Galerie Lelong, New York, N.Y.: MILDRED THOMPSON, “String Theory 11,” 1999 (acrylic on canvas). | The Mildred Thompson Estate, Courtesy Galerie Lelong & Co., New York
Yancey Richardson Gallery, NY: ZANELE MUHOLI, “Fezekile IV, Cincinnati,” 2016 (silver gelatin print). | © Zanele Muholi, Courtesy The artist, Yancey Richardson Gallery, NY and Stevenson Gallery Cape Town/Johannesburg
Josh Lilley Gallery, London: From left, DEREK FORDJOUR, “No. 68,” 2018 (oil pastel, charcoal, acrylic and newspaper mounted on canvas); “No. 10,” 2018 (oil pastel, charcoal, acrylic and newspaper mounted on canvas). | Courtesy Josh Lilley Gallery
Mixed-media paintings by Derek Fordjour at Josh Lilley Gallery sold for $10,000 to 25,000 each. Memphis-born Fordjour’s parents are of Ghanaian heritage. A graduate of Morehouse College, he has a master’s in art education from Harvard University and earned an MFA in painting at Hunter College.
British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare with Nicole Berry, director of The Armory Show. | Courtesy The Armory Show, Photo by BFA
David Castillo Gallery, Miami Beach, Fla.: Installation view of solo exhibition of works by SANFORD BIGGERS at Armory Show 2018. From left, with “Ghettobird Tunic” at center. | via David Castillo on Instagram
At David Castillo Gallery, “Free Radical,” a mixed-media sculpture by Sanford Biggers sold to New York collectors Carole Server and Oliver Frankel ($40,000), and “Annunciation,” quilt painting by Biggers was purchased by a major Washington, D.C.-based collection for $50,000.
David Castillo Gallery, Miami Beach, Fla.: SANFORD BIGGERS, “Ghettobird Tunic,” 1995 (bubble jacket and bird feathers, 66 x 32.5 x 17 inches). | Courtesy David Castillo Gallery
David Castillo Gallery, Miami Beach, Fla.: SANFORD BIGGERS, “Matter,” 2015 (antique quilts, oil stick, spray paint, fabrics, acrylic, tar, glitter, and silkscreen, 120 x 48 inches). | Courtesy David Castillo Gallery
Goodman Gallery, Cape Town/Johannesburg: DAVID GOLDBLATT, “Patience Poni visiting her parents Ruth and Jackson Poni, 1510A Emdeni South, Soweto,” 1972 (Platinum print on Arches Platine). | Courtesy the artist and Goodman Gallery
Rhona Hoffman Gallery, NY: DERRICK ADAMS, From left, “The Reveal,” 2017 (mixed media collage on paper, 44.5 × 30.25 inches); “Rebel Rebel,” 2017 (mixed media collage on paper, 60.5 × 40.5 in). | © Derrick Adams, Courtesy Rhona Hoffman Gallery
Rhona Hoffman Gallery, NY: GORDON PARKS, “Untitled, Harlem, New York,” 1963 (archival pigment print, 24 x 30 inches). | Courtesy and Copyright of The Gordon Parks Foundation
Rosenfeld Porcini Gallery, London: Installation view of LEONARDO DREW’s “123X” (2018), a site-specific work measuring 14 x 30 feet installed at the entrance to the Platform section of The Armory Show. | Courtesy The Armory Show
Leonardo Drew participated in an Artist Talk with artist and filmmaker Ja’Tovia Gary and Jen Mergel, curator of the Platform section of the art fair, on Saturday, March 10, part of Armory Live.
Goodman Gallery, Cape Town/Johannesburg: MISHECK MASAMVU, “Untitled (Flowerhead),” 2017 (oil on canvas). | Courtesy the artist and Goodman Gallery
Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris and Brussels: Installation view of SEYDOU KEITA solo exhibition at The Armory Show 2018. | via Galerie Nathalie Obadia on Instagram
Galerie Nathalie Obadia sold works by the late Malian photographer Seydou Keita (1921-2001), who American artist Mickalene Thomas has cited as an influence, at prices ranging from $7,000 to $33,000.
Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris and Brussels: SEYDOU KEITA, Both images “Untitled,” 1948-1954 (Editions of 5 – 65.5 x 55, Editions of 10 – 179 x 139 cm). | Courtesy CAAC – The Pigozzi Collection & Galerie Nathalie Obadia – Copyright: © Seydou Keïta/SKPEAC
Sean Kelly Gallery, NY: Installation view of KEHINDE WILEY, “Margaret, Countess of Blessington,” 2018 (oil on canvas). | Courtesy The Armory Show, Photo by BFA
Sean Kelly Gallery sold a portrait by Kehinde Wiley, the first one he has painted since he made President Obama’s official portrait for the National Portrait Gallery, for $140,000.
Blank Projects, Cape Town: Armory Show Director Nicole Berry with founder Jonathan Garnham and Andrea Danese of Blank Projects. The Cape Town gallery won the art fair’s Presents Booth Prize. | Courtesy The Armory Show
The Presents section of The Armory Show features new galleries less than 10 years old. Awarded for the most compelling and innovative exhibition presentation, the Booth Prize includes $10,000. The prize went to Blank Projects of Cape Town, which exhibited works by Cape Town-born artists Igshaan Adams and Cinga Samson. Jurors Naomi Beckwith, curator at MCA Chicago; collector Glenn Fuhrman, founder of FLAG Art Foundation; collector Marguerite Hoffman; and collector and philanthropist Pamela Joyner, selected the winning gallery.
Blank Projects, Cape Town: CINGA SAMSON, “Unyana Welanga (I),” 2017 (oil on canvas, 117 x 92.5 cm). | Courtesy Blank Projects
Blank Projects sold three Cinga Samson paintings, at prices ranging from $10,000 and $15,000.
Blank Projects, Cape Town: IGSHAAN ADAM, “Surah Al-kafiroon III (part one & two),” (back) 2016 (woven nylon rope, beads and string, 180 x 292 cm). | Courtesy Blank Projects
Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, London: FAITH RINGGOLD, “Black Light Series #12: Party Time,” 1969 (oil on canvas, 59.75 x 84 inches. | © Faith Ringgold, Courtesy ACA Galleries, New Yorkand Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, London
Installation view of NICK CAVE, “Arm Piece,” 2018, at Jack Shainman Gallery, NY; Collector and philanthropist Pamela Joyner was a juror for the Presents Booth Prize. | Courtesy The Armory Show, Both Photos by BFA
Jack Shainman Gallery, NY: MELEKO MOKGOSI, “Democratic Intuition, Comrades: Addendum,” 2017 (two panels: silkscreen, pigment transfer, acrylic and oil on canvas, approx. 108 x 154 inches, overall). | Courtesy Jack Shainman Gallery
Jack Shainman Gallery sold the two-panel painting by Meleko Mokgosi. The asking price was $85,000. His large-scale paintings place figures in engaging scenes and juxtapositions that explore “notions of colonialism, democracy, and liberation across African history.” Born in Botwana, he lives and works in New York. His solo exhibition, “Meleko Mokgosi: Bread, Butter, and Power,” is currently on view at the Fowler Museum at UCLA, where he earned his MFA.
Ryan Lee Gallery, New York, N.Y.: EMMA AMOS, “Models,” 1995 (acrylic with photo transfer on linen, 51 x 39 inches). | © Emma Amos/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY, Courtesy the artist and Ryan Lee Gallery, New York
Two paintings by Emma Amos were sold at Ryan Lee Gallery for $60,000 to 90,000 each. Amos was the youngest and only female member of Spiral, the short-lived artist collective co-founded in 1963 by Romare Bearden, Charles Alston, Norman Lewis, and Hale Woodruff.
Hales Gallery, London and New York: FRANK BOWLING, “Fishes, Wishes in Summertime Blue,” 2016 (acrylic on canvas). | Image courtesy the artist and Hales, London, New York, © the artist
Mariane Ibrahim Gallery, Seattle, Wash.: Gallery owner Marianne Ibrahim presented a solo exhibition of works by LINA IRIS VIKTOR made between 2016-2018 with pure 24-karat gold, acrylic, and gouache printed on cotton rag paper. | Courtesy The Armory Show, Photo by BF
A painting by Stanley Whitney sold for $60,000 at Lisson Gallery. At Jack Shainman Gallery, a collage by Barkley L. Hendricks (1945-2017), part of a recently discovered series that is a departure from the portraits for which he is known, sold for $45,000. CT
TOP IMAGE: Ryan Lee Gallery, New York, N.Y.: Installation view of EMMA AMOS, “Valued,” 1999 (Iris print on canvas with acrylic and Kente, 96 x 150 inches). | © Emma Amos/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY, Courtesy the artist and Ryan Lee Gallery, New York
SOURCES: Sales reports were drawn from ARTNEWS, Artsy, artnet News.
BOOKSHELF
The nearly 400-page volume “Four Generations: The Joyner Giuffrida Collection of Abstract Art” documents Pamela J. Joyner and Alfred J. Giuffrida’s impressive collection of more than 300 works by about 100 African American and African diasporic artists with full-color images, sections devoted to each artist, and contributions from leading scholars and curators. “Sanford Biggers: Sweet Funk An Introspective” was published to coincide with the artist’s Brooklyn Museum exhibition. Two publications document early exhibitions surveying work by Emma Amos. Also consider “Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic” and “American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold’s Paintings of the 1960s.”
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