CHICAGO, IL.- Many of the world’s preeminent art galleries, exhibiting the very best artwork in ceramics, wood, glass, fiber, jewelry, metal, design – and new this year, painting, photography, and works on paper – converge at SOFA CHICAGO, November 5-8 at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall. SOFA CHICAGO, the renowned art fair dedicated to Sculpture, Objects and Functional Art and Design, offers more than 36,000 visitors annually the opportunity to collect museum-quality works from some of the world’s most established galleries.

Now in its 22nd year, the 2015 edition of SOFA CHICAGO showcases nearly 70 new and returning galleries displaying works by emerging and established artists, as well as a revamped floorplan created by Chicago architects Cheryl Noel and Ravi Ricker of Wrap Architecture. This re-envisioned design creates a more open and cohesive show layout, allowing visitors to explore the fair and the galleries in a more engaging way.

In addition to a record number of new galleries, SOFA CHICAGO once again features favorite returning galleries. Following is a highlight of select returning galleries participating in the 2015 edition of SOFA CHICAGO:

Aaron Faber Gallery (New York) celebrates the artistry of jewelry and watch design, focusing on contemporary studio jewelry, classic jewelry new and old, and collectible vintage timepieces. The gallery is displaying pieces by Barbara Heinrich, Christy Klug, Paolo Marcolongo, Bernd Munsteiner, Jutta Munsteiner, Tom Munsteiner, Earl Pardon, Tod Pardon, So Young Park, Claudio Pino, and Peter Schmid/ Atelier Zobel.

Abmeyer + Wood Fine Art (Seattle) specializes in contemporary painting and sculpture with a roster of nationally recognized artists. The gallery has a strong history of bringing exciting, emerging ceramists to SOFA CHICAGO, including Calvin Ma and Erika Sanada. This year, Abmeyer + Wood Fine Art introduces Christopher David White, who creates his pieces by hand, without the use of molds or castings. The gallery is also showcasing works by glass sculptor William Morris, and well-known ceramic artist Patti Warashina.

For over 30 years, Ann Nathan Gallery (Chicago) has represented the work of established and emerging artists with a focus on contemporary realism in all formats – paintings, sculpture and studio furniture. Ann Nathan Gallery features furniture by artist Jim Rose and new pieces by sculptor Cristina Cordova.

Blue Rain Gallery (Santa Fe) represents well-established, contemporary artists with diverse backgrounds, working in a variety of mediums such as painting, ceramics, bronze, glass and wood and jewelry. The gallery also features a selection of Native American artwork with an emphasis on innovation, infinite detail, and superb quality. At SOFA CHICAGO this year, Blue Rain Gallery exhibits works from glass artist Preston Singletary, as well as Singlegary’s collaborative pieces with Harlan Reano, sculptor Rik Allen, and Santa Clara Pueblo sculptor and ceramic artist Tammy Garcia.

browngrotta arts (Wilton CT) has represented museum-quality contemporary arts from the US and abroad for nearly two decades. The gallery is a leader in international art textiles, mixed media and dimensional art. Artists represented at SOFA CHICAGO this year include Sheila Hicks, Lenore Tawney, Kay Sekimachi, Randy Walker, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Lia Cook, Federica Luzzi, Ed Rossbach, and Carolina Yrarrázaval.

Charon Kransen Arts (New York) promotes exciting, international jewelry, and hollowware by both established and emerging artists, whose works are found in museum and private collections around the world. Charon Kransen Arts focuses on the artists’ personal vision and on innovative approach, characterized by the use of a wide range of materials from paper to precious. Monica Cecchi, Annette Dam, Saerom Kong, along with several other artists, are being showcased at SOFA CHICAGO.

Craft Scotland (Edinburgh) features works in a variety of media, including ceramics, textiles, furniture, jewelry, metalwork, and wood. Craft Scotland represents artists Bryony Knox, Carrie Fertig, James Rigler, Jessamy Kelly, Jonathan Boyd, Juli Bolaños-Durman, Kelly Munro, Line Mortensen, Melanie Muir, Rosie Kimber, and Simon Ward.

Duane Reed Gallery (St. Louis) represents nationally recognized contemporary artists working in the fields of painting, photography, and sculpture. The gallery is committed to showcasing innovative, established and emerging artists working both figuratively and abstractly in a variety of media, including ceramics and glass. This year, the gallery features pieces by Cassandria Blackmore, John Garrett, Mary Giles, Katherine Glover, Jan Huling, Jun Kaneko, Sabrina Knowles and Jenny Pohlman, Jiyong Lee, Steven Young Lee, Marvin Lipofsky, Mark Pack, and Lindsay Pichaske to SOFA CHICAGO.

Based in London, flow gallery carefully curates its contemporary artists working in a variety of media, including ceramics, glass, paper, wood, textiles, metal and jewelry, all of which are unique, and inventive. This year at SOFA CHICAGO, flow gallery showcases an aesthetic mix of Scandinavian and Japanese works. Featured artists include Akiko Hirai, Sue Lawty, Henk Wolvers, Matthias Kaiser, and Claire Brewster.

Gallery FW (Chicago) is dedicated to offering artwork by Japan’s leading contemporary artists. The gallery’s artists draw upon Japan’s rich artistic heritage and advance traditional media in innovative, even revolutionary ways that declare their own artistic ideas often ¬shattering preconceived notions of “craft” and creating timeless works of fine art. Featured artists at SOFA CHICAGO include Masaaki Yonemoto, Niyoko Ikuta, and Tsumori Hidenori.