The Best of The Art Show 2021

 Lawrence Weiner at Marian Goodman Gallery. All photographs by Paul Laster.
 

By PAUL LASTER, November 2021

Presenting a lively selection of contemporary and modernist artworks by an international mix of artists, the 2021 edition of The Art Show kicked off to a packed house of collector, curators and critics on Wednesday evening at the Park Avenue Armory in New York. Organized by the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA), the beloved art fair features 72 member galleries from across the United States. With 40 exhibitors offering solos shows and many others presenting rare and never-before-seen works, this year’s fair delight the eye while providing plenty of food for thought.

Modernist highlights included a superb selection of abstract paintings and sculptures by Dada pioneer Jean Arp at Michael Werner, paintings and works on paper by Surrealist painter and poet Dorothea Tanning at Gallery Wendi Norris and mystical watercolors by self-taught Argentinian artist Xul Solar at Sicardi | Ayers | Bacino, while amongst the contemporary standout presentations were abstract expressionist paintings and collages by Korean American painter Wook-Kyung Choi at Tina Kim Gallery, colorful AfriCOBRA works by Jae Jarrell and Wadsworth Jarrell at Jenkins Johnson Gallery and dynamic textile weavings at Garth Greenan Gallery by Native American artist Melissa Cody.

Scroll through the images below to see our favorite pieces, in a variety of mediums, from this year’s show. WM

  Jean Arp at Michael Werner
 

Jean Arp at Michael Werner
 

Jean Arp at Michael Werner
 

Robert Kobayashi at Susan Inglett Gallery
 

Tseng Kwong Chi at Yancey Richardson
 

Xul Solar at Sicardi | Ayers | Bacino
 

Xul Solar at Sicardi | Ayers | Bacino
 

Hank Willis Thomas at Kayne Griffin
 

Wadsworth Jarrell at Jenkins Johnson Gallery
 

Jae Jarrell and Wadsworth Jarrell at Jenkins Johnson Gallery
 

 Wadsworth Jarrell at Jenkins Johnson Gallery
 

Dorothea Tanning at Gallery Wendi Norris
 

Dorothea Tanning at Gallery Wendi Norris
 

Mary Heilmann at Gray
 

Fred Eversley and Mary Weatherford at David Kordansky Gallery
 

James Brooks at Van Doren Waxter
 

Jack Tworkov and James Brooks at Van Doren Waxter
 

Joel Shapiro at Berggruen Gallery
 

Rachel Lachowicz at Shoshana Wayne Gallery
 

 Rachel Lachowicz at Shoshana Wayne Gallery
 

Karen Knorr at Danziger Gallery
 

Wook-Kyung Choi at Tina Kim Gallery
 

Wook-Kyung Choi at Tina Kim Gallery
 

Lynda Benglis at Cheim & Read
 

Mernet Larsen at James Cohan
 

Honoré Sharrer at Hirschl & Adler Modern
 

Lesley Vance and Deborah Remington at Bortolami
 

Honoré Sharrer at Hirschl & Adler Modern
 

Roy Lichtenstein at Castelli Gallery
 

 Albert York at Matthew Marks Gallery
 

 Katy Moran at Sperone Westwater
 

Barbara Takenaga at DC Moore
 

 Barbara Takenaga at DC Moore
 

John Gill at Yossi Milo Gallery
 

Marisol at Mary-Anne Martin|Fine Art
 

Oscar Bluemner at Menconi + Schoelkopf Fine Art
 

Oscar Bluemner at Menconi + Schoelkopf Fine Art
 

Benny Andrews at Michael Rosenfeld Gallery
 

Larry Bell at Anthony Meier Fine Arts
 

Myrlande Constant at Luhring Augustine
 

 Omar Velázquez at Corbett vs. Dempsey
 

William Hawkins at Ricco/Maresca Gallery
 

Louise Fishman at Locks Gallery
 

Melissa Cody at Garth Greenan Gallery
 

Melissa Cody at Garth Greenan Gallery
 

Landon Metz at Sean Kelly
 

Larry Poons at Yares Art
 

Mel Kendrick at David Nolan Gallery
 

Alexander Calder at Barbara Mathes Gallery