Jill Krementz covers opening night of The Art Show

Outside the entrance to the armory.

The Art Show March 2-6, 2011 Park Avenue Armory at 67th Street The 2011 Art Show, now in its 23rd year, annually assembles the nation's most influential art dealers to present exhibitions that range from cutting edge 2lst century works to museum quality works from the 19th and 20th centuries. Organized by the Art Dealers Association of America (ADDA), the show traditionally benefits the Henry Street Settlement. The Gala Opening was on March 2 with 70 dealers showing the works of their artists. ADAA's Lucy Mitchell-Innes (President) and Linda Blumberg (Executive Director) as well as Adam Sheffer (Chairman of the Art Show) were all on hand to greet the many patrons, sponsors, artists, curators and other high rollers who, according to the dealers in the booths, were buying. The show will be open on Thursday-Saturday, noon to 8 PM and on Sunday from noon to 6 PM. Admission is $20. On Saturday, March 5th at 11 AM, Gary Tinterow, who curated the recent Picasso exhibition at the Met, will discuss how the Museum came to acquire its rich collection.

David Zwirner, whose booth is centered front and center as you enter the armory, features Alice Neel (1900-1984) in a solo show. Ms. Neel has recently been receiving a lot of attention having been the subject of a recent biography, Alice Neel: The Art of Not Sitting Pretty, by Phoebe Hoban.

Neel's Still Life, 1964, depicts a window in the artist's apartment on West 107th Street.

David Sokola, 1973.

Rita and Hubert, 1958.

Sherry Speech, 1964.

Maynard Stone (first version), 1957.

Nancy, 1980.

Alice Neel photographed by Jill Krementz on May 19, 1976 at the American Academy of Arts & Letters. Ms. Neel is standing in front of one of her paintings on display (Archbishop Jean Jadot, Apostolic Delegate to the United States).

David Zwirner and Richard Feigen.

Tom Armstrong, former Director of the Whitney.

Calvin Tomkins, staff writer of The New Yorker, who recently profiled George Condo.

Dodie Kazanjian and Lucy Mitchell-Innes, President of the ADAA Board of Directors. Ms. Kazanjian has a piece in the recent issue of Vogue about her personal experience with facial "rejuvenation." Kazanjian has curated a show of Elizabeth Peyton's work which can currently be viewed at Gallery Met (The Metropolitan Opera House), done in conjunction with the ongoing Ring cycle.

Hilary and Wilbur Ross.

Sabine Rewald, a curator at the Metropolitan Museum whose exhibition, Rooms with a View: The Open Window in the 19th Century, will be at the Met April 5th-July 4th.

There was an abundance of orchids and excellent food and drinks on hand for the opening night benefactors.

William Acquavella with two of his three sons: On the left is Nicholas and on the right is Alexander.

Joan Miró Le Voilier, 1956 Earthenware On view at Acquavella Galleries, NY

Alberto Giacometti Isaku Yanaihara 1960 Bronze, Cast 3/6 (Acquavella)

Lucian Freud David, Pluto and Eli, 2001 Oil on canvas (Acquavella)

Richard Soloman, President of Pace Prints. On the wall: Matisse aquatints, edition of 25.

Alexandra (Sasha) Schwartz, Pace Prints and Pace Primitive. Ms. Schwartz is holding an editioned (50) Picasso linocut which goes for $225K.

Patrick Kelly, the associate publisher of The Art Newspaper, which is distributed daily during the Art Fair.

Adam Sheffer (Cheim & Read), Chairman of the Art Show, with Pace's Richard Solomon, the former President of the ADAA.

Linda Blumberg, Executive Director of ADAA with Adam Sheffer. Ms. Blumberg is a former curator of PS1. On the wall behind them is Pat Steir's limited edition mono prints which have been produced by Cheim & Read and Pace prints to benefit the Henry Street Settlement. Ms. Steir is considered among the most prominent American artists to emerge since the 1960s. A series of her recent paintings is on view at the Cheim & Read Gallery, NY through March 26, 2011.

Frederic S. Papert, a director of the Henry Street Settlement.

Sam Tsao with the Friedrich Petzel Gallery. The gallery is featuring the work of Maria Lassnig, a 91-year-old artist who lives in Vienna.

A few books about Maria Lassnig and her work on view at the booth.

A photograph of Maria Lassnig displayed in one of the books.

Maria Lassnig in her studio in Vienna.

Self portrait of the artist.

The Frog Princess.

Im Netz (Translation: In the Net)

Mitchell Mandel, a dermatologist and collector, with Jeffrey Loria.

Keli Zaloudek, who works for the Jeffrey H. Loria & Co Gallery.

Three Bathers by Niki de Saint Phalle $325K (for all three) at the Jeffrey H. Loria & Co Gallery

Larry Rivers Birdie; plaster Birdie was Mr. Rivers's mother-in-law and she often posed for the artist. $70K at Jeffrey Loria Gallery

Larry Rivers, Cigar Box, 1967 edition: 2 of 2 wood and mixed media $125K at Jeffrey Loria Gallery

Miró, bronze, a project for a monument, not for sale Jeffrey Loria Gallery

Elizabeth Peyton Laura $400K at Jeffrey Loria Gallery

Elizabeth Peyton drawing, colored pencil, of Keith Richards $90K at Jeffrey Loria Gallery

Claes Oldenburg Tilted Neon Martini edition of 50 $42K at Jeffrey Loria Gallery

Kathy Goodman.

James Goodman.

Andrew Wyeth $450K The James Goodman Gallery

Claes Oldenburg Giant Balloon in the Shape of a Screw, 1973 Pencil, charcoal and watercolor on paper The James Goodman Gallery, $150K

Barbara Jakobson and Jodie Eastman.

Jason McCoy, who described himself as an eponymous art dealer.

Howard Greenberg, owner of the Howard Greenberg Gallery in the Fuller Building. He displayed only William Klein in his booth. On the wall is a 1962 Klein edition of 30, $14K ("Frame included," said Howard).

Eric Brown and Kathy Butterly. Tibor de Nagy devoted its entire booth to the ceramics artist. Mr. Brown had this to say: "We made the decision to present a solo exhibition of Kathy Butterly’s new sculptures at this year’s Art Show because her work is unlike any other artists at work today and it distinguishes itself immediately in a fair that is well known for its quality and connoisseurship. Happily, we made several sales to important collectors on opening night. The gallery just celebrated its 60th anniversary; it seems appropriate at this moment for us to look toward the future by exhibiting such a vital and admired contemporary artist."

David Patrick Columbia who owns this website with his business partner, Jeff Hirsch.

Irving Blum, who lives in Los Angeles and has been a major fixture on the art scene for as long as I can remember. His next project is an exhibition of street art in L.A. on which he is working with MOCA's Jeffrey Deitch. The show will open in April.

Collector Howard Sloan.

Art critic Jason Kaufman, who has recently been penning a lot of reviews for The Washington Post.

Artist Onyedika Chuke, whose day job is at Susan Sheehan Gallery. On wall is Andy Warhol silkscreen, Man with a Toy, 1956, Ink on paper ($38K); Ed Ruscha, Carp, 1969, Lithograph ($30K); and a Cy Twombly (right) Untitled, On the Bowery, 1969-71, Screenprint ($45K).

Performance artist Colette on view at the Pavel Zoubok Gallery.

Gallerist Marianne Boesky, who has two spaces, one in Chelsea and one on the Upper East Side.

Marianne Boesky displayed the work of Diana Al-Hadid, a 28-year-old Syrian-American artist who lives in Brooklyn. This editioned piece of 3, titled In Mortal Repose, had already sold for $75K.

Artist Diana Al-Hadid.

Donald Moffett, a contemporary artist who is represented by Marianne Boesky. He will be having a solo show in Boesky's Chelsea space in 2012. Shown here, a unique piece made of acrylic on line with rayon, $60K.

Detail of Donald Moffett piece. The zippers are made of aluminum.

Jan Rothchild, who is Vice President, Communications and External Affairs for Sotheby's Institute of Art.

Sotheby's will be holding a reception to launch Noah Horowitz's book on Thursday, March 3 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Auction House at 1334 York Avenue. Mr. Horowitz is Director of the VIP Art Fair and his book gives a textured financial analysis of contemporary art, in all its market manifestations.

Collector Earle Mack.

Artist Caio Fonseca divides his time between Pietrasanta (Lucca) and his studio in Manhattan on East Fifth Street. His works are held in numerous public and private collections in Europe and the United States.

Artist Wolf Kahn.

Yinka Shonibare, MBE Planets in My Head, Physics, 2010 James Cohan Gallery Mr. Shonibare (b.1962) is a British-Nigerian artist living in the U.K.

Richard Feigen in his booth in front of Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans.

Art critic David D'Arcy.

Henry and Marie-Josée Kravis.

Peter MacGill and his MacGillettes, from left to right: Kimberly Jones, Lauren Panzo, Kaelan Kleber, and Maya Piergies. The Pace/MacGill booth was devoted entirely to Irving Penn and his "Corner" photographs.

Claude Lalanne An edition of Green Apple, $150K You may remember that I devoted an entire photojournal to the Lalanne's sculpture when it was displayed on the medians of Park Avenue.

Tom Otterness Building Blocks Edition of 9; $32K John Berggruen Gallery Tom Otterness does a lot of public art and currently has a show at Marlborough. His work appears in the 14th Street Subway Station and many of you will recall his bronzes recently installed up and down Broadway.

Kathy Goodman and Paula Cooper.

Stephen P. Henry, Director, Paula Cooper Gallery in Chelsea.

Realtor Judy Auchincloss.

Judy Auchincloss kissing her novelist pal Jay Cantor.

Howard Rachofsky is a collector with a capital C judging from the reaction to him from the dealers as he strolled up and down the aisles. Mr. Rachofsky is from Dallas and is wearing a shirt and jacket combo picked out for him by his wife.

Adam Weinberg, Director of the Whitney Museum.

Jaume Plensa Unique Alabaster heads, $275K for one head, $450K for the pair. These are displayed at Galerie Lelong. Mr. Plensa, a Spanish sculptor from Barcelona, is probably best known for creating the Crown Fountain at Chicago's Millennium Park. His work is also being featured at the armory's Richard Grey Gallery.

Text and photographs © by Jill Krementz all rights reserved.