NEW YORK, NY.- The Armory Show announced today that Eliza Osborne has been appointed Deputy Director of The Armory Show, beginning June 1. Osborne will oversee the VIP Program, manage strategic partnerships, and further strengthen the fair’s relationships with collectors, galleries, and institutions worldwide.
Osborne was appointed by Executive Director Nicole Berry and joins The Armory Show’s leadership team as the fair prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary edition in 2019. This past March, The Armory Show hosted 198 galleries from 31 countries for its 2018 edition, which was widely praised by press and collectors alike for its breadth of international art, curated exhibitor sections, and improved layout.
Since 2014, Osborne has served as the Executive Director for the Centre Pompidou Foundation, an American not-for-profit dedicated to supporting the Centre Georges Pompidou. During her four years as Executive Director, she oversaw acquisitions of artwork valued at over $27 million for the Foundation. Prior to her role at the Centre Pompidou Foundation, Osborne held executive positions at Sotheby’s in the Client Loyalty, Business Development and Bid departments in New York. Most recently, Osborne served as Vice President of Client and Business Development at Sotheby’s Los Angeles, where she successfully developed a portfolio of new West Coast clients for the auction house. While at Sotheby’s, Osborne was an active auctioneer both in-house and for charities across the country, for which she helped raise tens of millions of dollars. Osborne holds a M.A. in French Literature from Middlebury College and a B.A. in Art History from Smith College. She is also a graduate of Christie’s Education at the Royal Society of Arts in London, and in 2016 she was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for her contribution to the arts in France.
“I am pleased to join The Armory Show at this pivotal time, just after its triumphant 2018 edition and in advance of a landmark year for the fair,” remarked Osborne. “I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to work with Nicole—and the rest of The Armory Show’s exceptional team—on strategic initiatives and programs for a continually elevated, meaningful, and relevant experience for our visitors.”
“I am delighted to welcome Eliza as Deputy Director,” says Nicole Berry. “The Armory Show celebrates an important quarter-century milestone next year and we are thrilled to have such an extraordinary team assembled to expand our role as a driving influence in the cultural life of New York, and as a nexus for galleries, patrons, artists, and curators alike. Eliza’s extensive experience working with private collectors and public foundations will be an invaluable asset as we embark on this exciting new chapter in The Armory Show’s history.”
The 25th anniversary edition of The Armory Show will open with a VIP Preview Day on Wednesday, March 6; the fair will be open to the public March 7–10, 2019.