New York hosts my favorite contemporary art fair of the Fall season this week when The Salon: Art & Design kicks off Thursday 13 November 2014 with a “by invitation only” cocktail reception hosted by Architectural Digest. Over fifty exhibitors from nine countries bring an eclectic, but meticulously curated selection of pieces that showcase the best fine arts, furniture and decorative arts dating from 1890 to the represent. It is, in so many words, the sister Fair to the Paris Biennale.

 

If you love 20^th /21^st century art and design like I do, this is OUR show! From stunningly chic art deco furniture to museum quality modernist paintings, Salon presents the greatest designers of the last century along side new and emerging names.

There are so many exquisite and chic exhibitors I can’t possibly feature them all, but what I can do is share a handful of my favorites:

 

Galerie Diane de Polignac brings from Paris a collection of post-war and contemporary art mixed with artist commissioned furniture. Diane’s well-honed eye ensures that every piece is worthy of consideration for your collection. It’s so, so stylish and I’m happy to see she’s back again.

 

Because this is a great chance to meet exhibitors from Europe, another stop is Galerie Kreo from Paris. The gallery typically exhibits original design work by some of today’s most important designers who often create pieces specifically for the gallery. In addition, they have a wondrous ensemble of mid-century to present examples of tiptop lighting.

 

No contemporary art fair would be complete without a booth of superb Scandinavian design. Based in Stockholm, Modernity is the perfect introduction to THE best works by THE best of Nordic designers. If they don’t have it, it’s just not fabulous enough to worry about.

 

Galerie Maria Wettergren of Paris takes a uniquely French look at contemporary Scandinavian artists and invites us to remember that the region does not rest on the laurels of past, but continues to design amazingly beautiful and cutting edge design.

 

And doing the home team proud, New York based R & Company always has a booth filled with treasures by Wendell Castle, Joaquim Tenreiro and David Wiseman – each piece offered being the crème de la crème in the artist’s offerings.

 

And for those of you who can’t wait to see what this year’s pickings will be, Artsy has the exclusive preview of the show online. It’s always good to have a sneak peak of what to watch for before you hit this contemporary Art Fair, before you lose focus, and end up wandering like a kid in a candy store. Thank you Artsy for keeping us on track!

The Salon Art + Design is open to the public from Friday 14 – Monday 17 November 2014 at the Park Avenue Armory in NYC.

 

Richard Rabel is a New York Interior Designer and Principal at Richard Rabel: Interiors+ Art, a design studio offering residential design, decorating and art advising services.