Overview
- The 32nd Armory Show opened to VIPs on Thursday with critics and reporters noting a noticeably quieter, less crowded atmosphere than in past years.
- Organizers introduced a new floorplan that places the Focus section just inside the main entrance and disperses Solo booths across the fair to change how visitors move through the Javits Center.
- Daily schedule and calendar changes include moving the fair to late September and shifting the daily start time to 10 a.m., steps organizers say are intended to reshape attendance patterns.
- The Focus section, curated by María Elena Ortiz, spotlights work from the Caribbean and drew sustained critical attention for many of the fair’s most memorable presentations.
- About 230 galleries are participating with strong Presents and Focus displays despite the muted tone, and the concurrent Independent 20th Century fair at the Breuer Building adds overlapping fair traffic that could affect gallery exposure and sales.