milestone moments: the armory show's 30th anniversary edition

Echoes of History: The Armory Show 2024 and its Global Impact

The Armory Show, a cornerstone of New York‘s cultural landscape, celebrates its 30th Anniversary with a compelling line-up of curators, artists, and galleries from around the world. The 2024 edition, held from September 6 to 8 at the Javits Center, with a VIP Preview on September 5, promises a dynamic intersection of contemporary and modern art, bringing together more than 235 galleries from over 35 countries. Under the leadership of Kyla McMillan, Director of The Armory Show, this milestone edition is poised to offer a transformative experience for collectors, connoisseurs, and the general public.

Book your ticket to The Armory Show 2024, here!

The Armory Show 2024 features over 235 galleries representing more than 30 countries across a reimagined fair design | all images courtesy of The Armory Show

The Armory Show has been a vital platform for contemporary and modern art since its inception in 1994. As the city’s leading art fair, it kicks off New York’s fall art season annually at the Javits Center, bringing together international galleries and art enthusiasts. The show is renowned for its curated sections, thought-provoking programming, and commitment to curatorial excellence and public engagement. Acquired by Frieze in 2023, the event has further solidified its position within the global art community.

The 30th-anniversary edition in 2024 promises to be a landmark event, showcasing over 235 galleries from more than 30 countries. This edition is also notable for its revamped floor plan designed to enhance the visitor experience, along with a series of curated sections and special presentations that highlight both established and emerging artists. Additionally, American Express joins as the lead partner, bringing new energy to the fair with exclusive experiences for its Platinum Card Members. With Kyla McMillan as the Director and with curators Eugenie Tsai, Robyn Farrell, and Lauren Cornell at the helm, the show explores the theme of art-historical reverberations and echoes in the present, marking a significant moment in its storied history.

there are more than 55 first-time exhibitors participating in The Armory Show 2024

Curatorial Leadership and Vision

As briefly mentioned above, The Armory Show 2024 features a distinguished team of curators, Eugenie Tsai, Robyn Farrell, and Lauren Cornell, who bring a wealth of experience and innovative vision to the event’s curated sections. Eugenie Tsai, an independent curator with a notable career at the Brooklyn Museum, leads the Platform section where her theme, ‘Collective Memory,’ features large-scale installations and site-specific works exploring memory, material, and spirit. Highlights include Sanford Biggers’s Chimeras series, Nari Ward’s shoelace sculptures, and Dominique Fung’s reflections on Asian wet markets.

Robyn Farrell, Senior Curator at The Kitchen, curates the Focus section, emphasizing the fair’s avant-garde roots in 1994 at The Gramercy Park Hotel and the 1913 International Exhibition of Modern Art. Her selection underscores experimental and interdisciplinary forms, with works by artists like Jimmy Wright, who documents New York’s queer landscape, and Oliver Herring’s sculptural and performative pieces from the nineties.

Finally, Lauren Cornell, Chief Curator of the Hessel Museum of Art and Director of the Graduate Program at Bard College’s Center for Curatorial Studies, chairs the Curatorial Leadership Summit. The summit here delves into the theme of art historical reverberations, featuring a public keynote and a virtual event leading up to the fair.

the event once again showcases its renowned fair sections: Galleries, Solo, and Presents

Anniversary Highlights and Special Features

The 2024 edition showcases a mix of returning and new galleries, highlighting the fair’s role as a platform for discovery. More than 145 exhibitors from the previous edition are returning, including prestigious names like 303 Gallery (New York), Sean Kelly (New York, Los Angeles), and Victoria Miro (London, Venice), while over 25 galleries make their comeback, such as BANK (Shanghai) and Jeffrey Deitch (New York, Los Angeles). The Galleries section presents notable thematic, dual-artist, and solo-artist exhibitions, while highlights include Isaac Julien’s video installation Once Again…(Statues Never Die), Yukimasa Ida’s exploration of figuration, and Jordan Ann Craig’s contemporary paintings. Group exhibitions also feature a diverse range of artists from underrepresented backgrounds, presented by Pippy Houldsworth Gallery and Almine Rech, among others.

The Solo section offers intimate presentations of work by emerging and established artists. Featured artists include Manuel López, whose urban landscapes are showcased by Charlie James Gallery (Los Angeles), and Kate Gottgens, who examines gender dynamics through her paintings presented by SMAC Gallery (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Stellenbosch). Meanwhile, the Presents section focuses on emerging galleries with solo and dual-artist presentations. Highlights include Diana Sofia Lozano’s horticultural sculptures, presented by PROXYCO (New York), and Camila Falquez’s photography series documenting trans and non-binary rights in Colombia, presented by Hannah Traore Gallery (New York).

the show emphasizes thoughtful programming, elevated presentations, curatorial excellence, meaningful institutional partnerships, and engaging public art activations