The Armory Show 2016

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On a sunny chilly day in NYC, I eagerly made my way over to the west side for the Armory Show press preview. I made a quick tour of the Modern section, mostly established blue chippers, the highlight was looking at a piece, turning around and being face to face with Steve Martin! Yes, the wild and crazy guy is also a long time art collector. Speaking of humor, Rhona Hoffman Gallery of Chicago had this Mel Bochner piece, capturing what some people think of the art fairs.

Onto the Contemporary section which is the bulk of the show. I didn't get the sense that galleries were showing work as edgy as a few years ago, probably a nod to economic realities. The real edgy work is at Independent. Each year the art fairs have trends, and I was a bit taken aback by this banner. Partially because African American art and imagery were in abundance here; Academy Awards fallout or coincidence?

Many portraits of blacks in various media, and Kehinde Wiley had a strong presence with four or five large scale paintings at different booths.

A show-stopper was this sculpture (right) at Sean Kelly Gallery by Mr. Wiley (wasn't aware he is involved with sculpture, too) titled "Bound" from 2015. Beautiful piece.

Abstract work has a strong presence at this Armory show. Not so much "action" painting, more of a controlled abstraction using visual and tactile textures, like these two below by Gabrielle Picco at Francesca Minini Gallery's booth from Turin, Italy.

This piece (below) by Zander Blom from Capetown, South Africa at Stevenson Gallery is another example of this, combined on one surface.

There's something that "bedazzled" me about this decorative piece by Angelo Filomeno, "Tell Me, Tell Me," at Galerie Lelong in NY. Maybe because it's crystal and embroidery on - - wait for it -- denim!

These two portraits by Alice Neel were one of the few nods to realistic painting.
To the left is "Pervis" from 1958 and right is "Abdul Rahman" from 1964.

Best name of a gallery goes to: