They say you can take the girl out of Texas, but you can’t take Texas out of the girl. I have been in New York for 15 years now, but still have a serious soft spot for my hometown of Dallas. Every trip I look forward to visiting my family and friends, eating some Tex-Mex, and experiencing a little southern hospitality, but most of all it is always so exciting to witness the ever-evolving art scene.
Having the pleasure of working with several collectors in Dallas has allowed me to discover an incredibly warm community always willing to open their doors and share their collections. Dallas collectors are curious, smart and receptive to learning about new artists and practices. They also have ample space…
Between exploring remarkable collections and the excitement of the Dallas Art Fair, I never miss a visit to the incredible institutions in Dallas including the Dallas Contemporary, the DMA, (I am very excited for Ja’Tovia Gary, I KNOW IT WAS THE BLOOD, opening on April 23), and of course the Nasher Sculpture Center.
As Ft. Worth is only 45 minutes away, it is certainly worth the trek to see the the Ft. Worth Modern (Jammie Holmes: Make the Revolution Irresistible and I’ll Be Your Mirror: Art and the Digital Screen, currently on view), and the Kimbell (Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art on view) featuring rarely seen masterpieces from the classic period.
Clearly there is a lot to see in Dallas and Ft Worth, but this week is centered around the Dallas Art Fair, which I always prioritize attending. Particularly this year as the fair celebrates 15 years, I really wouldn’t miss it. It is the only fair that passes out free iced tea, might I add. This year I am particularly excited about a few new faces at the Dallas Art Fair including Max Hetzler Gallery and Micki Meng.
Another exciting addition for Dallas is the first iteration of The Dallas Invitational, a second art fair taking place at The Fairmont Hotel over the weekend, April 22-23. The fair is hosted by James Cope of ANDNOW and brings together a great selection of international galleries.
Fairs to Visit in Dallas:
Fashion Industry Gallery
1807 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75201
Thurs, April 20 — Sun, April 23
The Dallas Art District welcomes the Dallas Art Fair back for its 15th edition next week with an international cohort of 90 galleries. The return of many top-tier galleries from around the world speaks to the strength of the city’s art scene and collector base and the many exciting offerings that will be available at the fair this year. There will be a lot to see, and now there’s more space to do it in: the layout of the fair in the Fashion Industry Gallery has undergone a redesign to allow for larger booths.
Some not-to-be-missed booths include:
Night Gallery (Los Angeles)
Sarah Miska, Flightline, 2023, acrylic on canvas, 60 x 48 in Image courtesy the artist and Night Gallery.
GÜNTHER FÖRG, Untitled, 2000, acrylic on canvas 150 x 130 cm.; 59 x 51 1/8 in.
Image courtesy of Max Hetzler
RAPHAELA SIMON, Säge, 2022, oil on canvas, 190 x 230 cm.; 74 3/4 x 90 1/2 in., Image courtesy of Max Hetzler
Adrianne Rubenstein Broccoli, 2023 Oil on canvas 91.4×71.1 cm 36×28 in
Image courtesy of Tanya Leighton
Mie Olise Kjærgaard, Shipholding in Greenscape, 2022 - 2023, Acrylic on canvas
59 x 47 1/4 in, Image courtesy of VSF
Fairmont Hotel
1717 N Akard Street,
Dallas TX 75201
Sat, April 22 — Sun, April 23
The inaugural edition of this brand new fair has already created a tremendous amount of buzz ahead of the opening next week., Located on the Fairmont Hotel’s 19th floor—its “gold floor”—the Dallas Invitational offers collectors and art enthusiasts alike the chance to view artworks and connect with a smaller number of galleries in a more intimate setting.
The genesis of this fair was organic; it sprung from an idea that James Cope, Director of Dallas’s own ANDNOW Gallery, had previously had, but took steps to realize it while he was attending Art Basel in Miami Beach last year. The galleries involved are friendly to Cope, or had been introduced to him through friends. The buzz around this fair has been overwhelmingly positive, signaling that the art scene in Dallas is ready and poised to embrace another art fair.
The Dallas Invitational is free, open to the public, and conveniently located next to the Dallas Art Fair, so there is no excuse not to visit.
Downtown/Arts District
The city has a lot of stellar venues to see art year-round, and the world-class museums in Dallas’s Arts District are close by the fairs downtown.
Currently on view at the Nasher Sculpture Center is a phenomenal survey of the American artist, Mark di Suvero. The sculptor’s monumental steel assemblages are on display along with smaller studies and his works on paper, making Steel Like Paper a comprehensive catalog of his decades-long practice. To di Suvero, “plates of steel are like sheets of white paper” and his sculptures offer an alternative view of an often unyielding material having an innate malleability.
Installation view: Mark di Suvero: Steel Like Paper
Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas
January 28 - August 27, 2023.
Photo: Kevin Todora, courtesy Nasher Sculpture Center Art © Mark di Suvero
Opening the weekend of the Dallas Art Fair, Ja’Tovia Gary will have a solo exhibition on view at the Dallas Museum of Art. The artist, who was born in Dallas, works with video and other media to create installations that address themes of representation, race, and gender. Gary mixes documentary footage with archival materials to make experimental short films that are powerful and immediate. With her style remarkable and vision singular, this show needs to be on your list.
Installation view: Ja’Tovia Gary, Precious Memories
Paula Cooper Gallery, New York, 2020.
Photo by Steven Probert. Courtesy of the artist and Paula Cooper Gallery, New York
A short walk from the Nasher Sculpture Center and the other sites nearby is Tei-An, a Japanese restaurant that delivers delicious noodles and omakase in stylish surroundings. If you are looking for more opulent decor, head to The French Room downtown for its Versailles vibes. Nearby is The Joule, which might have everything you could need: your caffeine fix will be supplied by Weekend, book a lovely afternoon tea surrounded by art books at Tea at TASCHEN, drink sophisticatedly at the Midnight Rambler, buy an artisanal sandwich at the Commissary, and visit the Dallas outpost of Los Angeles art gallery, Various Small Fires. You can continue to keep up with the city’s cultural happenings by reading its in-house publication, 1530 Main.
Design District
Situated north-west of Downtown/Arts District is Dallas’s Design District, home to a bevy of art galleries. Most all will have booths at the fairs, but it is worth a visit to this neighborhood to see the exhibitions currently on view. Also, don’t miss a trip to the Dallas Contemporary to see 'backward forward', Shepard Fairey's first museum show in Texas.
Emily Furr
Extra Strength, 2023,
oil and acrylic on board, 12 x 12 inches.
Courtesy the artist and Emily Furr. (image 12.26 gallery)
shepard fairey: backward forward (image dallas contemporary; photo by kevin todora)
Perhaps bookend your gallery crawl with visits to Triumphs? Have a cortado in the morning, and return for the bourbon later that afternoon.
Fort Worth
Less than an hour’s drive away from the Dallas Art Fair is another city with excellent art venues. Fort Worth is home to The Modern, Kimball Art Museum, and Amon Carter Museum of American Art all within walking distance in the city’s Cultural District.
Enjoy a coffee from nearby Ampersand while taking a stroll outside in the Fort Worth Botanic Garden after your art viewing.
Further Afield (Inwood)
It is impossible to list all of the sites that I recommend in Dallas - there’s too much to choose from. You will just have to come back…but before you leave, head north to Lovers Lane to visit two designer boutiques Cabana Canary that offer beautiful clothes for the beach or for your urban pursuits. After shopping, enjoy a taste of Paris in Texas at Rise, and buy a book for your flight home at Interabang Books.
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Be sure to follow @annebruderart on Instagram for highlights of both Dallas art fairs and much more to see around the city!
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