NEW YORK, NY.- Art New York and CONTEXT New York, presented by Art Miami, the leading U.S. based producer of international contemporary and modern art fairs, kicked off New York Art Week with a VIP Preview on Wednesday, May 3rd, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM; the fair then opened to the public until 8:00 PM at Pier 94. The fairs run through to Sunday, May 7th and present important works of art from the 20th and 21st centuries from 120 international galleries, representing more than 1,200 artists from 50 countries. VIP Card holders are being offered private complimentary transportation to the fair.

“May has become the most important time in New York for the art market, attracting international collectors, curators and museum professionals, all looking to acquire the most important and freshest works the market has to offer,” said Nick Korniloff, Executive Vice President of Art Miami. “Art New York and CONTEXT New York continue to grow in quality and presence, and Pier 94 has quickly become the most important and proven venue for the exhibition and acquisition of the arts in New York. The fairs’ goal is to continue to compliment auctions, FRIEZE and others, by offering the most discerning, culturally savvy audience of collectors an alternative world class fair to enhance their existing collection, or provide a new collector the opportunity to develop a collection with confidence in the most accessible manner.”

Art New York and CONTEXT New York boast a selection of the most significant galleries that have exhibited at Art Miami, Art Basel, Design Miami, The Armory Show, Masterpiece, Expo Chicago and Art Dealers Association of America’s The Art Show, among many others. Art New York Fair Director Katelijne De Backer has handpicked a roster of galleries that will display the finest blue chip modern and contemporary works.

Notable exhibitions include:

· London’s ARCHEUS / POST-MODERN presents David Hockney’s Sunflower, a unique hand-colored pressed paper pulp on yellow TGL handmade paper (1978) and DeWain Valentine’s Circle, a cast and polished green polyester resin (1970). Other artists highlighted include Keith Haring, Pablo Picasso and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

· Casterline|Goodman Gallery, based in Aspen, showcases Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Nets I. N. PQR (2007), which previously sold for nearly half a million dollars. The gallery also presents Ed Ruscha’s City (2008).

· New York’s David Benrimon Fine Art exhibits Andy Warhol’s screenprint Mickey Mouse (1981) and Franḉois-Xavier Lalanne’s famous bronze and epoxy stone sheep sculptures Brebis, Belier and Agneau from the Nouveaux Mouton series (1996-2010).

· Munich’s Galerie Renate Bender presents pieces by Helmut Dirnaichner, Jus Juchtmans, Matt McClune, Lars Strandh and Ludwig Wilding. Wilding describes his works as “irritating art;” an investigation of the limits of visual perception and questioning the perceptual habits of the viewer and the interaction between the eye and the brain.

· iPreciation of Singapore offers a group exhibition featuring the work of Tang Da Wu, including Dragon 龍, a charcoal pastel and ink on paper (2010), and Oh Chai Hoo’s Listening 听音, an ink on rice paper work (2016). Tang is the founder of The Artists Village, a contemporary art group in Singapore committed to fostering and advancing an increased consciousness of the importance of the arts and their contribution to Singapore society.

· Jerome Zodo Gallery in London highlights works from renowned artists, including Damien Hirst, Christo, Umberto Mariani and Agostino Bonalumi.

· Priveekollektie Contemporary Art | Design in Heusden aan de Maas presents Peter Macapia’s Stain 1, a stainless-steel work from the series Stain (2015), and Dominic Harris’ Snow White, an LED piece from the series Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (2015). Harris utilizes technology to create a surreal and whimsical take on reality.

· London’s Sims Reed Gallery exhibits Andy Warhol’s screenprint Green Pea from his celebrated Campbell’s Soup I series (1968), David Hockney’s lithograph Potted Daffodils (1980) and Roy Lichtenstein’s screenprint Titled (1996).

· New York-based Vallarino Fine Art showcases an array of Post-War American abstract expressionist works, including Frederick Hammersley’s Right Slide, oil on canvas (1964), and Leon Berkowitz’s Cathedral #5, oil on canvas (1966).

· Waterhouse & Dodd, based in New York, exhibits Frank Stella’s K.17 (lattice variation), a stainless steel and spray-painted Alumide sculpture (2008), Alexander Calder’s Variegated Loops, a gouache and ink on paper (1968), Sam Francis’ Red Yellow and Blue, an oil on paper (1963) and Willem de Kooning’s Untitled, an oil on New York Times newsprint (1975).

Celebrating its second edition, CONTEXT New York, led by Fair Director Julian Navarro, focuses on the development and reinforcement of emerging and mid-career artists. Significant exhibitions include:

· New York’s 532 Gallery Thomas Jaeckel shows artist José Angel Vincench, whose conceptual art is guided by issues within Cuban social life, and Danny Rolph’s latest work New York, an acrylic and mixed media on Triplewall (2017).

· Accola Griefen Gallery, based in New York, spotlights important American and Native American female artists, including Gina Adams, Judy Pfaff, Nancy Cohenand Marie Watt. The gallery is exhibiting some of Watt’s larger works that were produced in “sewing circles,” including Foundation, made with reclaimed wool blankets, embroidery floss, thread, cedar twine and cast-bronze Kalipuya fishing weight (2014).

· Denver’s Black Book Gallery presents David Walker’s Work in Progress and Ravi Zupa’s What Do We Do With Opposable Thumbs? (Tiger) from the Opposable Thumbs series. Zupa is self-taught and strongly believes that books are the best way to experience art, having spent decades studying art from cultures and movements that span history. Other artists on display include Swoon and the celebrated street artist Shepard Fairey.

· Corey Helford Gallery, located in Los Angeles, makes its CONTEXT New York debut this year. Known for showing international artists who are primarily focused on today’s pop culture, the gallery offers Nicole Gordon’s Boy With Hot Air Balloon, oil on canvas, Ian Francis’ Red Figures and Chris Anthony’s Belinda Is Calm, a pigment print.

· Gallery Henoch, from New York, exhibits Eric Zener’s HATCH, oil on canvas (2017), John Evans’ Visitation, oil on canvas, and Alexandra Pacula’s Urban Mesmerism, oil on canvas (2017).

· Portmarnock’s Gibbons & Nicholas spotlights visual artist Peter Burns and a selection of his works, including Cold Mountain, Forest of Blood and Waiting, all oil on canvas (2016).

· JOERG HEITSCH GALLERY, based in Munich, presents the NEW MASTERS exhibition, featuring emerging and cutting-edge artists, who offer artworks in dialogue with the old and modern masters. Albert Paley's Envious Composure sculpture, which was shown on Park Avenue (2013), is front and center at CONTEXT. The metallic bronze painted steel piece weighs 6,345 pounds and stands at 18 feet and three inches. Other artists showcased include Angela Glajcar,Victor Vasarely and Craig Alan, whose work mirrors that of Rembrandt’s.

· Santander’s JUAN SILIÓ GALLERY exhibits Rafa Macarrón’s La Plataforma, mixed media on aluminum (2017), and Chema Cobo’s About Nothing, an oil on canvas (2017). Macarrón, who is considered one of the up-and-coming artists in Spain, creates dream-like scenarios and a world of uncommon characters that, despite their drama and deformity, bear tenderness and kindness.

· Lucía Mendoza from Madrid showcases Salustiano García’s Esta ecuación hace un ruido parecido al de la lluvia Nº 1, an oil and color pencil on canvas (2011), and Cristina Gamón’s Territorios II, mixed media on plexiglass and board (2016).

· Richard Koh Fine Art, based in Kuala Lumpur, exhibits a selection of patterned drafted weaving structures from Anne Samat’s Huntsman Series. In addition, the gallery displays new works from artists Hasanul Isyraf Idris and Yeoh Choo Kuan.