PALM SPRINGS, CA.- Over Presidents’ Day Weekend, Art Palm Springs will present nearly 80 galleries from Asia, North and South America, and Europe, that represent more than 300 artists, and brings a world of art to the Palm Springs Convention Center. Since its inception in 2012, the increasingly popular fair has more than doubled the number of attending galleries from just over 30 in its first year to more than 60 in 2017. The show draws thousands of art collectors and patrons each year from around the globe.

Because of popular demand by its expanding audience and galleries, Urban Expositions has recently announced the addition of Presidents’ Day to the show’s schedule.

“The growth of the fair’s popularity has made the addition of Monday an easy decision and a must for the fair,” said Donna Davies, Vice President of the Art Group for Urban Expositions, producer of Art Palm Springs. “We see Palm Springs continuing its’ trajectory as one of the most important markets for contemporary and modern art.” As an indicator of growth, the 2018 fair has confirmed larger gallery participation than the debut event in 2012 and is expected to surpass last year’s participation.

Since its early editions, Art Palm Springs has been a draw for curators, collectors, designers and celebrities that include Cheech Marin, Jodie Foster, Alexa Davalos, Udo Kier, Shelby Lynne, Rain Phoenix, and award-winning designers Christopher Kennedy, Dann Foley and Erin Valencich.

With its pristine deserts and grand mountain views, Palm Springs has been an arts haven for decades. Artists such as from Agnes Pelton, Maynard Dixon and Sir Winston Churchill to Dale Chihuly have all found inspiration in the desert city.

The city’s fine art profile began in 1938 with founding of the Palm Springs Desert Museum, that encompassed desert arts and environment, that changed its name and focus to fine arts in 2005 to the Palm Springs Art Museum. The entire Coachella Valley has long history of exemplary galleries from Palm Desert to Palm Springs including Melissa Morgan Fine Art, HOHMANN Gallery, Heather James Fine Art, J. Willott Gallery, and Jorge Mendez Gallery.

In 2012, Art Palm Springs premiered, growing with record attendance each year. In 2017, Palm Springs drew international attention with the debut of Desert X, a biennial exhibit featuring 16 artists. As a program sponsor, Art Palm Springs 2017 Artist of the Year, Lita Albuquerque, local artist Phillip K. Smith and others were included in the exhibition that drew international audiences.

The 2018 Artists of the Year honorees are pioneering California artist Ed Moses, represented by William Turner Gallery at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, Calif., and Andy Moses who is presented by Melissa Morgan Fine Art in Palm Desert, Calif.

The duo join the ranks of Art Palm Springs’ Artist of the Year impressive list of Post War and Contemporary honorees including Judy Chicago, Mel Ramos, Jennifer Bartlett, Fletcher Benton, Larry Bell, and Lita Albuquerque.

The father and son duo will receive the Artist of the Year Award during Art Palm Springs taking place February 16-19, 2018. Arts Patron of the Year Award will be presented to during the Black Card Opening Night Celebration on February 15 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.