AO DIGITAL ROUND-UP – NADA FAIR, May 20th – June 21st, 2020

May 23rd, 2020

Edward Kay, via Rob Tufnell
Edward Kay, via Rob Tufnell

Making its own entry in the string of fairs and digital viewing sites embaraced by the art world to mitigate some of the damage caused by COVID-19, the New Art Dealers Alliance has launched a new project, the aptly titled FAIR.  Spanning several weeks of curated exhibitions from member galleries in New York and further afield, NADA’s new project will look to keep attention and focus on smaller galleries and artists amidst a time where many are suffering from the drop in physical contact and face to face encounters that make up so much of the art world’s business model.   Taking place May 20–June 21, 2020, FAIR will directly support 119 NADA Gallery Members and 81 other galleries that have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, totaling nearly 200 galleries around the world.  

Sam Jablon, via Ballon Rouge Collective
Sam Jablon, via Ballon Rouge Collective
Ala Younis, via 17 Essex
Ala Younis, via 17 Essex

FAIR offers an alternative profit-sharing model, structured to facilitate mutual support within the art community and provide revenue to each of its participants during a time in which galleries have temporarily closed their physical locations.  The show embraces a communal structure, with a percentage from each sale made from FAIR directly benefiting all participating galleries and artists. In addition, a percentage of each sale will go towards supporting NADA for their efforts in producing FAIR, their continued work as an organization for art galleries, through this time of crisis and beyond.  This communal model, which was already starting to find favor among even larger fairs in the months directly before COVID-19 shuttered so many spaces, provides a method of mutual support that helps all showing in the fair.

Federico Herrero, via Lulu
Federico Herrero, via Lulu

Marlon Wobst, via Schwarz Contemporary
Marlon Wobst, via Schwarz Contemporary

The fair runs in a tiered exhibition model, with galleries presenting a series of artworks over four-weeks with the opportunity to share new artworks each week. The initiative will also feature a series of online performances, studio visits and talks to complement the artworks presented by participating galleries and artists.

The first round of works are now up on the NADA website, and will switch over to a second round on May 27th.  The event ends June 21st.


Timothee Calame, via Edouard Montassut
Timothee Calame, via Edouard Montassut

Ulrike Müeller, via Calliccoon
Ulrike Müeller, via Calliccoon

Dan Finsel, via François Ghebaly
Dan Finsel, via François Ghebaly

Emma Kohlmann, via Jack Hanley
Emma Kohlmann, via Jack Hanley

— D. Creahan

Read more:
NADA FAIR [Website]