The 17 Best Art Fairs in the US | The Only Guide to 2021 Art Fairs You Need
There are so many art fairs out there, it can be incredibly hard to choose. Which are the best art fairs in the US, not to mention international art fairs around the world? Where should you go to discover the best new art? And where should artists and galleries spend their hard earned money to exhibit and sell? At Superfine Art Fair our business is art fairs and we’ve seen ‘em all. We put in the legwork, so you don’t have to! To make it easy on you — the art lover looking for the best art fairs in the US to visit, the emerging artist deciding on the best art fair for artists, or the art gallery seeking an international art fair to expand your audience — we made you the only guide to art fairs you need. Really. We promise.
Ready? Let’s go!
Crowds of onlookers and art collectors gather at Superfine Art Fair in Washington DC, October 2019. Read on for more of the best art fairs in the US, best international art fairs, and more!
The Big Apple: NYC Art Fairs
Since it’s our home base, let’s start with art fairs in NYC. Besides Art Basel Miami, the New York area probably has more art fairs throughout the year than anywhere else and it hosts some of the best art fairs in the US and beyond (including three annual, themed editions of our very own Superfine Art Fair!) along with top international art fairs that call New York a second home to their overseas bases. Follow our guide and you’ll discover the best new art in NYC - we guarantee it!
Image courtesy Outsider Art Fair
Outsider Art Fair
Every January, the Outsider Art Fair takes over the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood. We really can’t think of a better way to spend a chilly January night than warming up to the quirky, out-there, and sometimes even a bit macabre artwork created by outsiders to the traditional art world. Art galleries come from all over the world to showcase works that defy convention, surprise, and delight you. Don’t expect Yale MFAs on these walls: the artists you’ll see range from children to prison inmates to highly prolific but untrained artists. In our opinion, this is one of the best art fairs in the US and a can’t miss spectacle unlike any other NYC art fair. Be sure to add the Outsider to your art fair calendar, you won’t regret it. Along with works by legendary outsiders like Henry Darger, you’ll also find the best new art from artists who don’t the typical “artist” trope. They also host a Paris edition in October for those who love to enjoy autumn in the City of Lights.
Image courtesy Art on Paper
Image courtesy Art on Paper
Art on Paper
Full disclosure, we love these guys. Besides producing some of the best art fairs in the US, Art Market Productions, the brains and braun behind Art On Paper (along with the Seattle Art Fair, Art Market San Francisco, and many more art fairs around the country) also double as our logistics support for Superfine Art Fair in most of our markets, ensuring that our walls and lights are top flight for the artists whose work hangs on them. They also put on a damn good show that exemplifies many of the accessible principles we at Superfine Art Fair espouse. Art On Paper is no exception. For one, they really double down on works on paper (as the name suggests!) meaning there are exceptional finds at every price point — plus, themes are fun. Art On Paper is an excellent spring option for unpretentious art-lovers keen on filling blank walls. With everything from comic visual poetry by comedian Dave Eggers to top-tier lithography and everything in between, Art On Paper is a perennial fave for New Yorkers with all measure of art-buying budgets — and a contemporary art fair to be reckoned with. They also put together a great food court, with those oh-so-awesome branded coconuts, and a cafe that overlooks the East River. For these reasons and so many more, Art on Paper definitely makes our 2021 art fairs “must go” list.
Image courtesy The Armory Show
The Armory Show
The grande dame of NYC art fairs, The Armory Show has loomed over the Hudson since 2001, occupying Piers 92 and 94. For 7 years prior to that, the venerable fair had made its home in the Gramercy Park Hotel, the innovation of a group of motivated New York art galleries and the dealers behind them. Expect as much art fair as you can handle at The Armory Show, widely revered as one of the best art fairs in the US for the well heeled set who dig modern masters and contemporary up-and-comers, with price tags to match. We tend to bypass the modern section of The Armory Show (when you’ve seen a Warhol, you’ve…), and beeline for the contemporary work which typically provides a look at what’s hottest in the art market right now. Outside curators bring a flair to newer editions of the fair, and it’s a must for anyone making the circuit of art fairs in NYC each spring.
Image courtesy SPRING / BREAK Art Show
SPRING / BREAK Art Show
Groundbreaking. Exciting. Unorthodox. Words can’t really describe our true favorite spring break event filled with the best new art from NYC and beyond, but these ones get us close! Bouncing between lovingly repurposed urban spaces (often former government buildings and post-apocalyptic old corporate relics), this curator-driven immersive fair is like a trip to the Whitney Museum on a good day, multiplied by 50. Expect immersive installations but also great opportunities to meet cutting-edge curators and artists and their element — and take their work home. There’s a convivial atmosphere as art students and mega-collectors mingle side-by-side with no societal barriers between them. Curators, impresarios, and artists Ambre Kelly and Andrew Gori bring an air of authenticity to each project and you can literally feel their year of hard work at each episode of Spring / Break. Each fair is themed (the 2020 art fair’s theme was “IN EXCESS”….imagine what we found in store for us!) and the awesome art fair that could hosts LA editions each year as well. Spring / Break is certainly one of the best art fairs in the US, if not the globe, and its art-loving curators and groundbreaking artists deserve your support.
This year’s theme for the Fall 2021 edition of SPRING/BREAK is “HEARSAY:HERESY” and applications are now open!
Regular Applications* will be accepted from May 11 - July 1, 2021
Late Applications* will be accepted from July 2 - July 15, 2021
Crowds outside Superfine Art Fair in Soho, New York, May 2019
Artist Justin Yoon presented his amazing work at Superfine Art Fair in Soho, New York, May 2019
Superfine! Art Fair NYCx3: (wo)man, myth, and Magick | Sept. 23-Oct. 3
Finally, we get to talk about ourselves! For the first time ever, we put together three consecutive 2021 art fairs, each organized around a thread already present in the Superfine ethos. This year, our fifth as an art fair in New York, felt like the right time to bring them to the forefront. The first of the three is (wo)man — a nod to our base of 60-70% female artists who make up each Superfine Fair around the country. Historically, the art world has been tough for women to crack into and gain the respect for their practice and work that they deserve, and we’ve always been there, sledgehammer in hand, ready to break down those barriers. Superfine Art Fair: (wo)man is a natural extension of that commitment, and we’re really excited to have it. Next up is myth — a new concept organized around one of our top selling genres of contemporary art at Superfine fairs, modern surrealism. So many amazing artists are working within surrealism (and so many collectors old and new are reveling in their labors) that we saw it only fitting to dedicate an entire fair to the genre. Last but certainly not least, we’re hosting the very first edition of MAGICK, our LGBTQ+ fair geared towards artists from the queer and ally communities who create art around the queer experience in America and around the world.
A few things you can always expect at Superfine Art Fair are full-on price transparency (every single price is listed), affordable art from $100 to $2500, and a friendly, excited, diverse group of artists who love talking to collectors at every stage. We’ve been all about accessibility since day 1 and our NYC art fairs are no exception. More than 25% of our visitors discover and take home a new piece of art during each fair, and we love nothing more than seeing new art collectors connect with artists and buy their very first piece. The goal of Superfine is always to create a space where art-lovers can discover and take home the best new art — directly from artists — and NYCx3 is no exception.
Superfine (wo)man takes place from September 23-26, 2021, and Superfine myth & MAGICK will take place September 30-October 3, 2021. If you’re interested in taking advantage of our NYC art fairs as an artist, take a look at the link below for more information.
Image courtesy Curbed and Frieze New York
Frieze New York
Landing each May like a post-modern UFO on Randall’s Island and accessible by ferry from Manhattan, this London import is a see-and-be-seen affair. Top galleries vie for their next collector in a giant custom tent at one of the more built-up NYC art fairs of the season. We hosted Superfine Art Fair concurrently with Frieze for three years, and besides giving New York’s collector and art-loving community a late spring shot-in-the-arm of contemporary art, Frieze New York provides a nice counter balance to the more accessible and artist-forward market we ourselves have built at Superfine. Noted as one of the top international art fairs in the world, Frieze makes us all feel a little more cultured when it touches down each year. In 2021, Frieze took to The Shed at Hudson Yards and a slightly smaller format than years past. As far as 2021 art fairs go, if you’re looking for the “art world" scene, look no further than Frieze New York. However, know that the works on offer might be a little tight on the pocketbook.
Image courtesy Portal: Governors Island Art Fair and 4Heads
Portal: Governors Island Art Fair
Now, let’s take a different ferry, and navigate to a different island! Every year we look forward to exploring Portal: Governors Island Art Fair. Many Superfine Art Fair artists also exhibit in this production of the venerable not-for-profit 4Heads group, and it’s a wonderful place to discover great new artists and art. Rather than booths, the fair takes place in the bedrooms, hallways, and living areas of slightly derelict but oh-so-charming early-to-mid 20th century military housing on pastoral Governor’s Island, just a 5 minute ferry ride from either Manhattan or Brooklyn. Like Superfine Art Fair, Portal: Governors Island Art Fair is an art fair for artists and that’s who you’ll meet there. Wear a comfortable pair of sneakers and expect the best new art displayed in curated rooms staffed by the artists themselves or sometimes devoted friends and family. Pro-tip: bring a bottle of water and use the bathroom before reaching the Admiral’s Row area of the island where the fair is, so you can maximize your art-viewing time without any pesky bathroom breaks.
Let’s Head West: The Best Art Fairs in California
West is best! Okay, as New Yorkers we’re not sure we’re even allowed to say that but let’s be honest, we love the Golden State and we want you to go to the best art fairs in California (including yours truly, of course!) Jump on the red eye, open your art fair calendar, and get ready for the best of the west.
Los Angeles Art Fairs
Image courtesy LA Art Show and Palm Beach Show Group
LA Art Show
Helmed by cultural connoisseur Kim Martindale and the Palm Beach Show Group, The LA Art Show is one of the most impressive in the country in terms of scale, variety, and its leading position as one of the best art fairs in the US and the forebear of all other Los Angeles art fairs. The LA Art Show draws thousands of Angelenos downtown for a spectacular multi-day event across hundreds of thousands of square feet of the LA Convention Center, showing the best new art from around the globe at one of the top art fairs in the US — if not the world. Highlights of the 2020 LA Art Show program included DIVERSEartLA, a non-profit section of the fair highlighting artists from around the Pacific Rim, curated by Marisa Caichiolo.
For 2021, the LA Art Show has shifted its timeframe to summer, touching down in DTLA from July 29 to August 1, 2021. We can’t wait to see what one of our favorite art fairs has in store for us!
The family that collects art together, stays together! Pictured at Superfine Art Fair LA 2019
Superfine Art Fair LA | Feb. 3-6
We really, really love LA. That’s why our founders call the City of Angels home for two months out of every year, and why we’re so committed to putting on an awesome fair every year. We choose downtown LA (affectionately referred to as DTLA) to keep in sync with the most creative neighborhoods in the city — the DTLA Arts District, Silver Lake, Echo Park, and so many more — while still being just a short drive from enclaves like Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the entire west side. Our Superfine Art Fair artists hail not just from LA but around the globe, and 2020 was no different. Scott Froschauer put on an immersive installation of his mirror road signs, while Queens-based artist Rob Anderson flew in to create an interactive mural where Superfine Art Fair LA guests and their families can co-create the art. As with our fairs across the country, we strive to be one of the best art fairs in LA — and around the country. Transparency, accessibility, and diversity are as always at the forefront, and thousands of Angelenos resonate with our message of affordable art and connecting with artists one-on-one. To top it off, we aligned our dates with the LA Art Show for the first time, so you can easily hit both fairs in the same day or take your time and join each of of us for our opening nights.
We’re coming back to LA February 3-6, 2022. Stay tuned for updates and learn about how to apply below!
Image courtesy Frieze LA, view of installations at Frieze LA 2019
Frieze LA
In 2019, Frieze hopped across the country and took over the Paramount Studios backlot in Hollywood. The crowds went wild and celebrity sighting were in no shortage, as the same see-and-be-seen ethos of the fair’s London and New York editions took center stage. For the second year in a row, Frieze hosted not one but two 2020 art fairs: their NY stalwart and Frieze LA’s second edition. Expect blue chip art, big price tags, and some interesting installations in the eerily pseudo-NY outdoor area comprised of faux brownstones and other New York trimmings. Whatever the pedigree, this is decidedly an LA art fair and you’ll get a heavy sampling of celebrity culture along with art from major international galleries. Be sure to stay tuned for Frieze LA’s 2021 and 2022 dates.
© Tyler Haughey, Courtesy of Sears-Peyton Gallery, courtesy Photo LA
Photo LA
For photography connoisseurs, this is one of the best art fairs in the US to peruse contemporary and historical photography prints by dozens of international artists. We love the fair’s single focus (pun intended!) and spread of price points. Since it’s in the Santa Monica area, you can even make a day of it by visiting Venice and jumping in the (slightly chilly) Pacific for a quick post-fair dip. Informative panels with photo pros, installations, and curated selections from prominent LA art collectors’ home collections round out this awesome photo-driven art fair’s offering and cement it as one of top art fairs in LA — for both photo lovers and art lovers en generale.
San Francisco Art Fairs
Courtesy Fog Design+Art
FOG Design+Art
Taking a decidedly design-y approach to art fairs, FOG is a January highlight for Bay Area residents. Occupying the same Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture campus that Superfine Art Fair calls home, FOG is a focal point for early-in-the-year art and design discovery, consistently pushing the boundaries between art and design. One of the best known art fairs in San Francisco, FOG brings a keen eye to the Fort Mason campus and never ceases to amaze and excite art and design lovers at one of the oldest San Francisco Art Fairs around.
Courtesy Fort Mason
Superfine Art Fair SF | March 3-6
We loved the west coast so much that we brought the Superfine Art Fair approach to San Francisco for the first time this past February 27-March 4, 2020. Intimate and accessible, we took over the Gallery 308 space at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture alongside 60+ über-talented artists. Just like Art Market SF and FOG Design+Art, Fort Mason felt like the perfect fit for us. We love the arts community surrounding Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, and the beautiful grounds around our airy venue. The views of the sailboat harbor don’t hurt, either! Our price points were accessible as always from $100 to $2500 for original art by tomorrow’s up-and-coming emerging San Francisco artists, along with their global counterparts. Also present: the familiar Superfine Art Fair camaraderie that differentiates us across the country, making us one of the best art fairs in the US to meet artists one-on-one. New and long time San Francisco art collectors discovered and connected with amazing, passionate artists and delighted in our first SF outing.
We’ll be back at Fort Mason from March 3-6, 2022, bringing Bay Area residents the best new art from our Superfine artists. To find out how you too can take part, just click the button below!
Image courtesy Art Market San Francisco
Art Market San Francisco
When much of the art world is looking to New York’s auction season, the team at Art Market Productions doubles down on the west coast with the contemporary art fair that put San Francisco art fairs on the map. The proof is in the pudding: over 28,000 San Franciscans visited Art Market San Francisco at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture in 2019 for a banner year. Verdict? Definitely add this one to your art fair calendar.
Superfine Seattle | August 19-22
Above: “Ferragamo Molotov” by Superfine Seattle exhibiting artist Hannah Sarfraz
After a year’s delay (thanks, Covid!) we’re finally bringing our first Superfine Art Fair to Seattle in August of 2021. Touching down in Belltown at the beautiful Block 41 event space, we’ll be rocking the best new art from Seattle artists like Hannah Sarfraz, Jessica Tenbusch, and more. We can’t wait to bring the Superfine spirit to Seattle and create a contemporary art fair that celebrates the work of exciting, emerging artists in a fun, welcoming space.
Superfine Seattle will take place August 19-22 at Block 41 in Belltown. To learn more, visit the link below.
We’ve picked out the best art fairs in the US to save you time and energy, so you can plan your art fair calendar and make your own splash in the art world, whether you’re an emerging artist looking for the best art fairs for artists or an art collector/aficionado trying to decide where to find the best new art.
ARTISTS: LEARN MORE ABOUT SUPERFINE ART FAIRS IN NY, LA, DC, SF, SEATTLE, + MORE