Together with ever-exciting and stimulating artworks, the “who’s who” of the art world were on view at the VIP preview of the most cherished and revered of New York art fairs, Independent. Art-world supernovas wandered the dazzling array of top-notch galleries, including Maurizio Cattelan, Art Basel Global Director Marc Spiegler, and a very lively and engaging Jerry Saltz, the superstar art critic who delighted visibly-excited viewers with impromptu art classes inspired by his preferred artworks. In its eleventh edition, Independent featured 60 leading galleries and institutions.
A visit to Independent always resembles a tour of an impeccably curated top-tier museum exhibitions. There is no Miami Beach Art Basel party vibe here. It never feels claustrophobic, even at full occupancy. It’s the most rewarding art fair for art lovers and cognizant buyers. Each gallery enjoys wide encasing walls that never suffocate the works. Despite the wide range of style, media, and subject matter, each gallery’s narrative magically flows into the next seamlessly, creating a uniform experience as though multiple episodes of the same dream. Independent’s choice of galleries and artists always feels fresh, innovative, thought-provoking, and challenging. The viewer’s attention is always stimulated, pricked, tested; at Independent, boredom is not an option.