Art Week in NYC

Your guide to navigate the million art fairs this week

Next week might be the most overwhelming one on the NYC art calendar or arguably at all. There are over 10 major fairs and a flurry of smaller pop-ups and independent shows taking over the city. Ever since Frieze landed here in 2012, May has become a key moment in the art world, with other fairs strategically timing their openings to ride the wave of collectors, curators, and press already in town. I like to think the spring weather plays a role too - there’s no better time to stroll from gallery to gallery.

In this month’s paid letter, I’m breaking down the most essential fairs, plus sharing a schedule I’d follow so you can make the most of art week without burning out.

CLIO Art Fair

clioartfair.com |May 1-4 & 8-11 at 532 West 28th St, Manhattan

CLIO is the fair to focus on if you want to see independent contemporary artists without exclusive gallery representation. Held in Chelsea, they will have 250+ artworks by 70+ independent artists on show between the two weeks of the fair. The showcased art will be priced between $250-$25k. I also really appreciate that they have two consecutive editions, allowing you to spread out your visits vs. all the other fairs that focus on the May 8-11 window alone. The VIP preview nights are $35 and the rest of the fair is free with RSVP.