Southampton, NY—Florida’s bustling art scene will soon make a major impression in the Hamptons, with one of the world’s première art fairs bringing an unparalleled array of the world’s finest contemporary art to one of the world’s greatest artists communities, The Hamptons. For over three centuries, renowned artists - from 19th Century Plein Air painter William Merritt Chase to the 20th Century moderns Jackson Pollack, Willem de Kooning, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein to their 21st Century counterparts Cindy Sherman, April Gornik, Eric Fischl - have all called the East End home.
Art Miami, the longest running contemporary art fair and anchor fair to the city of Miami, is largely credited with making South Florida, a destination for collectors of world-class art works in every medium. How appropriate that such a world class art fair, renowned internationally for the highest caliber of contemporary and modern art should launch its newest art fair in the fabled resort of Southampton, itself possessing an extraordinarily rich artistic heritage.
The inaugural Art Southampton presented by Art Miami, the premiere International Contemporary & Modern Art Fair and marketplace for acquiring the finest works of art available in the Hamptons, will make its long - and eagerly - awaited Hamptons’ debut at the height of the social and cultural season this summer. The fair will take place from July 26-30, 2012 in a state-of-the-art 75,000 square foot Pavilion located on the sprawling 18-acre fairgrounds behind the Southampton Elks Lodge between the Southampton Country Club and Mercedes Benz of Southampton located directly off Route 27 A. The fair will commence on Thursday evening, July 26, 2012 with a highly-anticipated Opening Night VIP Preview benefiting Southampton Hospital.
"We are excited to be a benefactor of the inaugural Art Southampton Fair," said Robert Chaloner, President and CEO, Southampton Hospital. "This art Fair is a wonderful opportunity to bring our supporters and the international contemporary art community together in an entirely new way. Most importantly contributions from this event will assist Southampton Hospital in continuing to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our Eastern Long Island communities."
Like its sister fair Art Miami, which has for over 22 years distinguished itself for presenting the finest in modern and contemporary art and become a not-to-be-missed opportunity for collectors, art advisors, museum directors, curators, artists, connoisseurs, and interior designers, Art Southampton will feature a carefully selected group of 70-75 international art galleries, with a strong focus on primary artists and select secondary market works. An advisory committee is in place to assist in the vetting of gallery programs ensuring that the quality of art will be on par with the excellence of Art Miami allowing collectors, institutions, curators and art advisors to buy with confidence.
