The Armory Show Survival Kit

By Reena Jana
March 4, 2011

One of the hottest annual events on the international art world calendar is The Armory Show, an art fair that takes place in New York just as winter fades and spring starts to appear on the horizon. The 2011 Armory Show, the thirteenth edition of the international art fair, is on view from March 3-6 at the convention spaces at Pier 92 and Pier 94 on Manhattan’s West Side. Besides art dealers, art collectors, and artists from around the world, regular celebrity attendees include director Sofia Coppola and musician Michael Stipe.

The Armory Show

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The Armory Show 2010, Modern on Pier 92 (all images provided by The Armory Show via Flickr)
Photo Credit: Carrie Villines
Gabriel Kuri, The Armory Show's 2011 Commissioned Artist
Gabriel Kuri, Untitled (Cascada Coloreada) (2007)

Consumption tickets, postcard and screenprint on paper
17.32 x 11.81 inches

Photo Credit: artist and Galleria Franco Noero, Turin
Gabriel Kuri, The Armory Show's 2011 Commissioned Artist
Gabriel Kuri, Untitled ("A 84") (2007)

Turn stubs on vintage magazine page
12.99 x 10.51 inches

Photo Credit: artist and Galleria Franco Noero, Turin
Gabriel Kuri, The Armory Show's 2011 Commissioned Artist
Gabriel Kuri, Untitled (Jamais) (2006)

Turn stubs on vintage magazine page
10.24 x 9.96 inches
Photo Credit: artist and Galleria Franco Noero, Turin
The Armory Show 2010
Photo Credit: Carrie Villines
The Armory Show 2010
Photo Credit: Carrie Villines
Nick Cave at Jack Shainman at The Armory Show 2010
Photo Credit: Carrie Villines
The Publications Section on Pier 92 at The Armory Show 2010
Photo Credit: Carrie Villines
The Armory Show 2010
Photo Credit: Carrie Villines
The Armory Show 2010
Photo Credit: Carrie Villines

And there is plenty of artwork to choose from, as 274 galleries from 31 countries have booths at the 2011 Armory Show. Many pieces on view and for sale are by big-name artists such as Damien Hirst, but there are also affordable photographs and drawings by top-notch—but perhaps less-known-to-the mainstream artists—as well, such as Chinese contemporary artist Ai Wei Wei and fashion photographer Philip-Lorca diCorcia, both of whom were big hits at the 2010 Armory Show in New York.

Katelijne de Backer, a former MTV Networks director and producer, has been the NYC Armory Show’s Executive Director since 2000. An energetic and elegant presence, she’s helped the international art fair gain in size, visibility and importance. (When she came on board, there were about 90 galleries participating in the Show, a number that has since tripled.) De Backer has also been active in coming up with new partnerships and educational programs for the fair. This includes Armory Arts Week, a New York City-wide series of events, screenings, and lectures at museums, galleries, and other institutions meant to highlight artist communities across the Big Apple.

De Backer took time out before the show to share a behind-the-scenes look at the 2011 Armory Show.

The Inside Source: There's a focus on Latin America at the 2011 Armory Show. Can you explain why?

Katelijne de Backer: New York City has long been a great center of Latin American art and countless Latin American artists are represented by the city’s galleries. We decided to focus on the region since there hasn’t yet been a strong presence here of galleries from the region. Armory Focus: Latin America [a special section at this year's Show] will change this by bringing attention to this vital force in the city’s art scene and also turning a spotlight on the many important local institutions hiding in plain sight. We hope that the galleries, as well as the Latin American collectors and artists, will benefit from the vitality New York City has to offer. We are thrilled to celebrate Latin America’s creative community.

And we wanted to link the Armory Focus: Latin America with our 2011 commissioned art; each year we choose, via internal committee, an artist whose work will appear on all of our marketing materials. Gabriel Kuri, this year’s commissioned artist, is from Mexico City, and the choice seemed natural.

The Inside Source: This year, Armory Arts Week seems to be bigger than ever. Why is this aspect of the international art fair so important?

Katelijne de Backer: Every year Armory Arts Week (AAW) builds in popularity and influence. Through our partnerships with New York museums and cultural institutions, from Museum Mile to the Kunsthalle Galapagos in Brooklyn, we create a nightly neighborhood itinerary for the art world. We try to highlight as many events, fairs, and exhibitions as possible because The Armory Show and Armory Arts Week have made New York a destination in March. The Armory Show is the catalyst that brings all the events together. Each year more events join AAW, and that is wonderful. We think we’ve only scratched the surface; New York has so much more to offer especially when it comes to art. AAW will become bigger and bigger each year.

The Inside Source: The Armory Show always has such stylish sponsors. This year, one of the sponsors is Jack Spade. Did the company commission anything special for the 2011 Armory Show?

Katelijne de Backer: Yes. As I mentioned, the artwork of our commissioned artists are integrated into the fair’s marketing aesthetic. This year we worked with Jack Spade to create a limited edition print bag featuring Gabriel Kuri’s art that is only available to our special guests.

The Inside Source: Tell us a little bit about some of the Armory Show's collaborations this year, for example, with the VOLTA art fair, which takes place at the same time but tends to show younger, lesser-known artists?

Katelijne de Backer: VOLTA is a particular case because we are partner fairs [owned by the same parent company, MMPI, a producer of art fairs] but even aside from that, it makes sense to form partnerships and offer a broader range of art and art experiences. While The Armory Show has always been very strong in leading contemporary positions, what VOLTA offers is a more in-depth look at emerging artists and galleries, many of whom, in several years, might be at The Armory Show.

The Inside Source: Clearly, being the head of the Armory Show must keep you extremely busy and immersed in the art world year-round. But in your off-hours, what are you interested in personally, other than art?

Katelijne de Backer: I’m researching poetry at the moment.

We took some cues from Katelijne de Backer and put together a list of must-haves for The 2011 Armory Show—work by artists who will likely be popular at this year, as well as what fashion trends to wear, what high tech gadget to carry, and what to read.

Limited-edition Ai Wei Wei Commes des Garcons T-shirt

(buy it now price, $59.99)

This Chinese artist has proven very popular at the Armory Show in years past. Even if you can’t afford a large-scale painting by Ai Wei Wei, this limited-edition T-shirt designed by the artist and created in conjunction with hip Japanese clothing line Commes des Garcons is clearly a collector’s item.
Damien Hirst Signed Print

(Buy it now price $3,750.00)

Numerous galleries at the Armory Show represent this artist, whose monumental sculptures and paintings are often seen in museums and top-notch galleries. Even collectors on a budget can own a signed print by Hirst, such as this one.
Anthology of the World’s Best Poems

(buy it now price, $12.25)

Although she’s extremely busy heading the Armory Show, Katelijne de Backer, the Armory Show's Executive Director, makes time for outside interests. Currently, she says she is researching poetry as a pastime. This vintage anthology of “the world’s best poems” would be a fun and funky addition to any poetry fan’s library.
Jack Spade Messenger Bag

(buy it now price, $179.99)

The Armory Show is sponsored by stylish companies, such as Jack Spade, which is making a limited-edition bag just for collectors who buy a special ticket to exclusive Armory Show events. Even if you can’t get your hands on the Armory Show Jack Spade bag, a classic messenger sack from Jack Spade would be a handy accessory for anyone attending the art fair.
BlackBerry Torch Smartphone

(buy it now price, $500)

DeBacker stays in touch with staff, collectors, artists, and friends and family during the Armory Show and beyond with a BlackBerry. The newest model, the Torch, has a touch screen and a full, tactile keyboard.
Philip-Lorca diCorcia Signed Book

(buy it now price, $175)

Photography tends to sell well at the Armory Show and is priced affordably for collectors starting out. One name to was Philip-Lorca diCorcia, a widely recognized artist whose fashion photographs appear in magazines such as W. At last year’s Armory show, hundreds of his images sold, and it’s likely that his work be a hot purchase this year as well. One great way to learn about his work (and own a piece signed by the artist) is to pick up this autographed book of his photos.
Joan Mitchell Print

(buy it now price, $2,750)

Several galleries exhibiting this year represent this Abstract Expressionist artist, whose work sold well among collectors at last year’s Armory Show.
Martin Margiela Boots

(buy it now price, $199.20)

When asked what she wears to Armory Show events, the Belgian-born de Backer says she prefers clothing and accessories by top Belgian designers. These striking, sculptural heels by Belgium’s Martin Margiela are wearable works of art.
Gabriel Kuri Book

(buy it now price, $23.19)

In keeping with the theme of the Armory Show’s focus on Latin American art, the organizers commissioned the up-and-coming Mexican-born artist Gabriel Kuri to create a new artwork that would be featured on all marketing materials for the art fair. Read up on his work in this new book, which has a ghostly white-on-white cover.