There was a sense of pent-up energy in the build-up to Expo Chicago, which kicked off as early as Monday night with a lineup throughout the fair this weekend. Chance the Rapper gave a talk and Fair Director Tony Karman was joined by newly elected Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for a reception.
At yesterday’s lively preview, crowds steadily piled inside Festival Hall on Chicago’s Navy Pier to see a top-notch line-up of 170 exhibitors from 36 countries.
Karman said the fair opened “to a fantastic response” and exhibitors saw “strong sales and numerous placements with major institutions and collections.”
A few dealers said they sold out of their stands by the end of the first day, including Half Gallery, which featured works by Yoora Lee at prices ranging from $5,500 to $24,000 (buyers included trustees from the Whitney Museum and the Brooklyn Museum). Meanwhile, Sean Horton Presents announced that it sold its stand of 11 works by Lauren dela Roche at prices ranging from $5,000 to $12,000.
Installation view of Laure Mary-Couégnias’ solo stand at the Richard Hellery Gallery (Los Angeles) at Expo Chicago. Image courtesy of Richard Heller Gallery.
“As always, the opening was buzzing with a strong collector presence and overall good energy,” Los Angeles dealer Richard Heller told Artnet News. In a vote of confidence, Heller took over two stands that faced each other in an aisle. One was a solo booth devoted to paintings by Laure Mary-Cougénia while the adjacent booth was a dynamic display of gallery artists, which included paintings by Amy Bennett and Carter Flachbarth, and ceramics by Eric Croes.
Heller noted that he had been attending Expo Chicago since 1985, “when Jan-Eric von Löwenadler was churning out $14,000 Basquiat masterpieces in boxes that had just arrived,” he said. told Artnet News. “I have been participating as a gallery owner since the mid-90s.”
Yoora Lee, Your Pillow (2023). Image courtesy of the artist and Half Gallery.
Asked about his decision to double this edition of the Chicago fair, he told Artnet News that he was “certain” that Mary-Couégnias’ work would “in one way or another excel in the ability to transcend the limits of an art fair,” he said. adding that it is “a calming oasis in an otherwise frenetic environment”.
There is no shortage of discoveries, especially in the thematic sections of the show. Miami-based Spinello projects featured a solo booth by Los Angeles-based painter Elizabeth Tremante in the “Profile” sector. Tremante, who uses humor to question the representation of women in the canon of art history, had works for sale from $5,000 to $15,000. (Collector Beth Rudin DeWoody acquired Tramonte’s Brownies, goofing off for a camera, getting sucked into a masterpiece of abstraction.)
Elizabeth Tramonte, Brownies, goofing off for a camera, getting sucked into a masterpiece of abstraction,. Image courtesy of the artist and Spinello Projects, Miami.
“The participants were really enthusiastic, curious and inquisitive. There was no shortage of curators, museum directors and major collectors,” Spinello told Artnet News.
The Galeria Nara Roesler has sold three works by Brazilian artist André Griffo (who Artnet News cited as an artist to watch at the fair yesterday) at prices ranging from $30,000 to $50,000.
“We love coming to Expo Chicago year after year,” said director Rachel Tretter. “We were very pleased with the conversations we had on day one with local collectors as well as national and international collectors from places like Miami and Norway.”
Gio Swaby, Gate (2023). Image courtesy of the artist and Claire Oliver Gallery.
Miles McEnery has confirmed the sale of another our highlights in previewpainting by Annie Rabbit Falls) (2023).
Meanwhile, Harlem’s Claire Oliver Gallery has had success with artist Gio Swaby, whose work is the focus of a solo exhibition just opened at the Art Institute of Chicago, titled “Gio Swaby: freshness”, until July 3. Two of three large-scale textile pieces on display, with maximum prices of $75,000, sold to museums.
A large bronze self-portrait by Zanele Muholi at Expo Chicago, 2023. Photo by Eileen Kinsella
Los Angeles-based Kohn Gallery also had several notable sales, including a large-scale painting by Ilana Savdie for $110,000 at an East Coast institution, and two works by Siji Krishnan, one to an East Coast collection for $58,000 and one to a private museum in the United States for $70,000.
Another stunning and unexpected work on display was a huge bronze self-portrait bust of South African artist Zanele Muholi, famous for his black and white photographs. When we spotted the artist nearby, we mentioned our surprise to see his name on a bronze sculpture. Muholi shrugged and said with a smile, “You know? The pandemic.
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