Next door in Pier 90, Volta NY was an antidote to the loud and bustling Armory main event. Strictly contemporary art, each gallery presents a solo show. This combined with the smaller venue but less densely packed space, Volta felt more thoughtful and easier to digest. It was united by an excellently curated show at its the center, The Aesthetics of Matter, brought together by Mickalene Thomas and Racquel Chevremont.
In its seventh year, the Spring/Break Art Show offers curators a venue of their own without being tied to gallery representation. This year’s theme was “Stranger Comes to Town,” with many works addressing political issues and immigration policies. Taking up two floors of former Conde Naste office space in Times Square, every corner office and cubicle was transformed into an installation. Compared to the mostly white walls of other Armory Week fairs, Spring/Break felt like a carnival, full of experimentation, passion, and humor.
Big sales and big crowds are being reported for Armory Week, and with markets booming, it seems like this expansive fair will continue to flourish.