The Independent 20th Century art fair, in its fourth iteration, was held at the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan, featuring 31 exhibitors. Unlike larger events such as the Armory Show, this fair maintained a more modest scale and specialized focus on 20th-century art. A significant aspect of its mission was to highlight long-overlooked artists, particularly women, queer artists, and artists from the Global South who have not yet achieved widespread fame.
One standout presentation at the fair was a booth dedicated to the Surrealist painter Leonor Fini, featuring her 1941 painting "L’Alcôve." This work depicts a sleeping man and a gazing woman, both nearly nude, with the woman in a position of power, which Fini herself described as "revolutionary." The painting was priced at $3.5 million by Weinstein Gallery, making it one of the most expensive pieces available for purchase at a New York fair during that week. The booth also displayed other Fini works, including a unique cat mask made from pebbles.
Other notable artists and galleries included Lucia Di Luciano at Lovay Fine Arts, and a thoughtful selection of Sol LeWitt's works on paper at James Barron's booth. LeWitt's gouache paintings and works made from torn or folded paper showcased his conceptual and rigorous practice. Additionally, Cristin Tierney Gallery revisited Judy Pfaff's sculptures from 1985 to 1990, including a monumental wall-mounted piece crafted from recycled materials, priced at $375,000. Ortuzar, New York, showcased Ernie Barnes, and John Szoke Gallery presented works by Pablo Picasso and Edvard Munch.
The fair aimed to offer collectors and visitors opportunities to discover obscure artists and rarely exhibited works by well-known figures. Elizabeth Dee, the fair's founder, emphasized finding dealers willing to take chances on "untested material" that might be too risky for larger events. The atmosphere at Casa Cipriani was noted for its refined and demure vibe, providing an ideal setting for an art fair, distinct from the often "headache-inducing fluorescent lighting" of other fairs.
In later editions, the fair expanded its footprint and number of exhibitors. By its fifth edition, it had moved to Sotheby's Marcel Breuer-designed headquarters on the Upper East Side, featuring 57 exhibitors. This expansion allowed for an even broader display of works, including lesser-known Surrealists like Manina at Richard Saltoun Gallery, Pop artists like Rosalyn Drexler at Garth Greenan Gallery, women of Abstract Expressionism from galleries like Berry Campbell, and Black artists from the Soho scene presented by Salon 94 and Ryan Lee Gallery. The fair also featured artists who took unconventional approaches to abstraction, such as Sue Fuller at Luxembourg & Co and Al Held at James Fuentes Gallery, and Hilla Rebay at Weinstein Gallery.
