Press Release | 10/11/18

The City of Brotherly Love will have its first and only fine art fair for important modern and contemporary art. It will be held at the historic 23st City Troop Armory, between Market and Chestnut Streets, in the center of Philadelphia. The boutique and elegantly designed 4 days fair, scheduled April 4-7, 2019, will be limited to 40 elite art galleries. The First Look Opening Night VIP Preview will benefit a local arts charity, TDB.

A selection committee of top art professionals will help jury and guide the gallery selection process. Over 5,000 art patrons, collectors, art enthusiasts, curators and art consultants are expected to attend the centrally-located and easily accessible fair the over the 4 days.

The Perfect Setting

This boutique and impeccably designed fair provides attendees a casual and manageable viewing experience. It is an ideal setting for both gallerist and art lovers to meet and mingle while experiencing a high energy and dynamic marketplace for top-tier post-war and contemporary art. (1945-present) This marks one of the few opportunities for Contemporary galleries to display their work in meaningful context. This museum-like venue is virtually in the center of town. Prices for art works will range from $5,000 to $5 million.

Placing the Contemporary Art World Spotlight on Philly

Rick Friedman, Executive Director of the PFAF says, “Philadelphia is a longtime culturally driven city. It is well known as a buying mecca for antiques, 19th century and early American art. Now, with its 6 million area residents, there is a sizable, fast growing, and affluent collector base. They are seeking to explore the acquisition of high caliber Modern and Contemporary material in all media. This group, coupled with a considerable number of serious art patrons and major collectors who actively support the local museums and galleries, make for a ripe and untapped art fair marketplace.”

A Thriving Arts Scene

Philadelphia, the second largest city on the East Coast, is committed to the visual arts and has one of the most thriving art scenes in the nation. There are 25 local art galleries selling primarily contemporary art. The Philadelphia Museum of Art boasts a membership base of 46,000 households. With more than 2,000 murals, Philly has earned the nickname; “The Mural Capital of the Nation.” Philadelphia is widely cited to have more public art than any other city in the country. It has more impressionist paintings than any other city in the world, except Paris.

An Art Knowledgeable and Wealthy Region

The show organizers believe that time has come for Philadelphia to play host to its own nationally and intentionally promoted contemporary fair. Fairgoers are expected to be from the upscale towns and affluent suburbs along the Main Line, as well as Chester, Montgomery, Bucks and Delaware Counties. Advertising outreach will also include other cultural cities, such as Princeton and Wilmington. As a terrific tourist city that welcomes 42 million domestic tourists annually, fairgoers are also expected from throughout the East Coast, Midwest and Europe.   

About the Producers

The show organizers have been leading producers of fine art fairs in the US for a decade and are teaming up with artnet as their lead Online Partner. PFAF will have an unprecedented marketing and media reach locally, nationally and internationally. Targeted to art collectors, patrons, museum directors and art enthusiasts. As pioneers in the luxury and regional fine art fair business, the organizers have produced highly successful art fairs in the Hamptons, Aspen, Palm Springs, Houston, San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

About the Fair

The PFAF production company, ShowHamptons is located at 223 Hampton Rd, Southampton, NY. The fair’s website is www.philfineartfair.com. Show location is 23st City Troop Armory, 22 South 23rd St, Philadelphia.