Nada Entrance, all photos via Patrick Jaojoco for Art Observed

Returning to the southern tip of Manhattan, and the fittingly loose confines of the Basketball City sports complex, the NADA New York fair caused quite a stir this year, bringing a high quality fleet of exhibitors and artists to the space for a free fair that did away with much of the high profile glitz of Frieze up the East River, without sacrificing on quality works.  Welcoming a number of small regional galleries alongside a strong count of downtown mainstays, the 80-gallery fair presented a compelling alternative to Frieze’s big ticket names and prices, while keeping a strong focus on size and selection. (more…)

The Venice Biennale will reportedly move its opening date up a month, The Art Newspaper reports.  Scheduled to open on May 9th next year, the new dates are forcing art fairs to readjust their scheduling plans for that summer.  “We haven’t finalized the 2015 dates yet, but we’re aware of the potential crunch points in the calendar next year and are looking to make a decision in the forthcoming weeks,” says a spokeswoman for Frieze. (more…)

The New Yorker has published an in-depth profile on dealer David Zwirner, taking time at the Art Basel fair earlier this year to watch him in action as he sells his works, while offering interesting perspectives on the current state of the art world.  “One of the reasons there’s so much talk about money is that it’s so much easier to talk about than the art,” he says. (more…)

The Art Dubai fair closed its doors yesterday on the most successful fair in its seven year history, with $45 million in fine art exhibited over the course of the four day fair.  Initial reports signal strong sales across the board, and underlines the rising prominence of the city for the global arts market.  “The growth of Art Dubai over the past seven years reflects the rising prominence of the UAE as a centre of art and cultural discourse.” said Fair Director Antonia Carver.  (more…)