The Dallas Art Fair is back this week for its 12th installment and its first time as a virtual fair after the physical event, slated to take place April 16-19 at Fashion Industry Gallery, was rescheduled for October 1-4. The Dallas Art Fair Online includes 82 galleries from across the world–the majority of the group of 94 exhibitors would have been in Dallas this weekend.
Instead of mounting installations, they’ve each shared their wares through digital viewing rooms. Of course, the experience is less engaging than mingling your way through an art party, but it gets the job done: There is a lot, a lot of work up for grabs here, and it’s all well-organized at your fingertips.
Some of the highly anticipated Dallas Art Fair first-timers will make their DAF debut virtually, including London’s Carlos/Ishikawa gallery and New York’s JTT gallery.
Those two galleries will share a booth in October and currently have a joint presentation for DAF online. The selection of work speaks to the times–modern, minimal, and a bit gloomy; My favorite is Ed Fornieles’ “The Here After,” a portrait of an exhausted cartoon working from a cluttered kitchen table.
New York’s Salon 94, another high-profile newcomer in 2020, has also partnered with a second exhibitor, Morán Morán from Los Angeles, for its digital viewing room. Sadly, Salon 94 isn’t bringing out the Judy Chicago and Marilyn Minter we were hoping to see, but the two galleries have put together a beautiful exhibition (with a Texas edge) by photographer David Benjamin Sherry. His technicolor images of Big Bend would be a bright addition to any Dallas-area home.
There are, of course, tons of local galleries on board the Dallas Art Fair Online. Emerging collectors should check out Erin Cluley Gallery, Galleri Urbane, Cris Worley Fine Arts, Valley House Gallery, and 12.26 for exciting pieces under $10,000. Barry Whistler, Conduit, and Galerie Frank Elbaz are wonderful local options for pricier pieces.
While we highly recommend supporting local exhibitors, the joy of the Dallas Art Fair is in discovering galleries from elsewhere. So, take a “stroll” through the booths. It’s honestly never been easier.
In addition to virtual exhibitions, the Dallas Art Fair Online includes guided tours, webinars, panel discussions, and studio visits with artists each day. See the full schedule here.
