NEW YORK, NY.- The Armory Show announced today that it has appointed Benjamin Genocchio as Executive Director. The Armory Show will take place March 3-6, 2016, welcoming over 200 galleries from 36 countries in what will be the most international edition to date. As Executive Director, Mr. Genocchio will lead the development and strategic vision of The Armory Show. With extensive leadership experience in the global arts community, Mr. Genocchio will broaden the reach of the fair by engaging with galleries, collectors, directors and advisors from around the world. Mr. Genocchio will start in his new position in January, 2016.

The Armory Show will be further strengthened by Mr. Genocchio’s critical expertise, proven leadership and international perspective. Mr. Genocchio joins The Armory Show from Artnet News, where he served as Editor-in-Chief. Mr. Genocchio holds a PhD in art history from the University of Sydney, Australia, with a specialization in Latin American art. He is the author and editor of nine books on the visual arts and art market, including two books on Asian contemporary art. In 2001, Mr. Genocchio moved to New York, where he began writing for The New York Times, reporting on the arts nationally. In 2010, he was appointed Editor-in-Chief of Art & Auction and Artinfo.com, which flourished under his leadership, with Artinfo.com expanding from a single website to ten worldwide. In 2014, he joined Artnet, the publicly traded German auction house and internet information services provider, where he launched and staffed Artnet News, serving as Editor-in-Chief. On his appointment, Mr. Genocchio says: “I am thrilled to join The Armory Show team and I look forward to leading this outstanding art fair, building on its prominence within the art world. New York is the center of the international art world and it is an honor and pleasure to be invited to direct the city’s most prestigious art fair. With a broad view of the art world, from the market to media, galleries, auctions and collectors, I have a unique overview of what's happening. I look forward to bringing that overview coupled with my experience and connections to The Armory Show, expanding its role and significance for the global art world.”

“Benjamin is a proven leader who has already made a prolific contribution to the art community both in New York and abroad. His strong relationships with artists, collectors, curators and galleries will prove a dynamic and invaluable asset; and now he will turn his focus to The Armory Show, leading this strong institution to even greater success,” commented Myron Maurer, Chief Operating Officer, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., a division of Vornado Realty Trust, the fair's owner.