Carlos Cruz-Diez and Sérvulo Esmeraldo, among others

 Art Aspen Celebrates Ten Years with Events and Special Programming

The 2019 Edition Offers a Glimpse into the Future with New Artist Commission and Talk

NEW YORK, NY – We are pleased to announce the 2019 edition of Art Aspen. A subsidiary of UK based Clarion Events, Art Aspen will return to the Aspen Ice Garden at the base of Ajax mountain from Thursday, July 25, 2019, through Sunday, July 28, 2019, for a tenth year. The jewel-box sized fair, which was acquired by Clarion in 2016, has been a consistent and highly anticipated part of the Aspen cultural calendar. As Art Aspen enters a new era, its added focus on in-depth dialogs about art and culture, and the engagement of the local Aspen art community, will further highlight the distinguished enjoyed by visitors year after year.

The 2019 edition of the fair will include a select group of galleries showcasing modern and contemporary art by over 100 artists from all over the world. Known for the strong presentation of process-driven works, pieces will range in medium and style from the mesmerizing kinetic-opt art works of color theorist Carlos Cruz-Diez, presented by Sicardi Ayers Bacino Gallery, to the mind-bending mixed media works by Joe Black, presented by Opera Gallery, to the exquisite hand-blown glass objects and vessels by Alex Bernstein, presented by Raven Gallery. Striking a balance between the joy of collecting works by established favorites and the excitement of an encounter with new perspectives and practices, guests will be able to view pieces by long-time favorites like Damien Hirst and Fernando Botero and discover emerging artists such as Justin Lyons and Sérvulo Esmeraldo.

This year Art Aspen introduces its inaugural Artist Commission, a new platform designed to introduce an emerging artist to the Art Aspen community through the development of a thematic site-specific installation. New York-based artist Adrienne Elise Tarver is the first Artist Commission recipient and will receive a stipend and production support from Art Aspen for the installation of In Fertile Shadows, 2019. This body of work, which began in Australia, addresses the complexity and invisibility of the black female identity, domesticity, and fantasy in the Western landscape through creation of tropical environs and canopies inspired by invasive climbing vines using wire mesh and other household materials. Tarver’s work connects flora to human experience, facilitating new connections and perspectives between personal narratives and the environment.

Generating excitement around the world experience and acquisition of art is only part of Art Aspen’s mission. Supporting the local community is a fundamental value. As a nod to the flora-focused Artist Commission, Art Aspen will keep its attention on nature and has committed to reducing its use of paper by scaling back its fair guide. Those funds will instead be donated to The Environmental Foundation, a program managed by Aspen Skiing Company employees designed to support projects that promote environmental education and research; seek to reduce the impacts of climate change, fostering responsible stewardship of our natural resources; protect our mountain ecosystems; and preserve and create opportunities for outdoor recreation.

The fair returns with another series of robust programming, starting with the pre-fair release of this season’s SELECTS. Each year a small cohort of art connoisseurs will pick their favorite pieces from the fair as a quick guide to “must-see” works at the fair. The tenth edition SELECTS participants will be announced prior to the opening of the fair. The 2019 Host Committee, who are friends and supporters of the fair, include Etta Meyer and Alex Halperin of Aspen Peak; Cindy Hirschfeld and Nancy Mayer of Aspen Sojourner; philanthropist and Aspen Hall of Fame inductee, Kay Bucksbaum; and Genna Moe, the executive director of The Art Base. They will help celebrate the opening of Art Aspen and co-host the VIP Opening Night Preview on July 25th  from 5pm-9pm, which is sponsored in part by Aspen Peak magazine to benefit The Art Base, a local art center designed to foster creative expression in the visual arts for all ages and abilities. On Friday, Genna Moe, Executive Director of The Art Base will host two fair tours, followed by a cocktail reception hosted by Aspen Sojourner.  On Saturday, July 27th at 2:00pm, artist and Artist Commission recipient Adrienne Elise Tarver will be in conversation with art, science and technology curator Marnie Benney for a talk entitled Uproot: A Conversation About Plants, Humanity, and False Utopia. Art Aspen will also host a series of VIP fair tours and artist studio visits throughout the weekend.

Art Aspen thanks its 2019 sponsors, supporters, and cultural partners, which include Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Antolini Italy, Art Foundation Desert Hot Springs, Aspen Chamber of Commerce, Aspen Film, Challenge Aspen, Diagio, Glenwood Springs Arts Council, Grand Junction Colorado Commission on Arts & Culture, Houston Design Center, Gregory Allicar Museum of Art, Milagro, Museo de las Americas, Museum of Art Fort Collins, Museum of Craft and Design, Reponse, Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center, Theatre Aspen, University of Wyoming Art Museum and its media sponsors, including American Art Collector, American Fine Art Magazine, Art & Antiques, Art in America, Artillery, art ltd., artprice.com, Artsy, Aspen Magazine, Aspen Daily News, Aspen Peak, Aspen Sojourner, The Aspen Times, Fine Art Connoisseur, Galerie, New American Paintings, Observer, Santa Fean, Sotheby’s and Venü.

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About Art Aspen
Art Aspen, held at the Aspen Ice Garden each Summer, features approximately 30 of the country’s preeminent art galleries, showcasing pieces from 1950 – present. This boutique-style fair is nestled against Ajax Mountain, which provides the ideal environment for collectors, art patrons and VIPs to mix and mingle while experiencing this dynamic marketplace of important art.

Art Aspen is owned by Clarion Events, a UK-based world leading event organizer, which has been delivering innovative and market-leading events since 1947. In addition to Art Aspen, Clarion Events produces SOFA CHICAGO and Art Palm Springs. All art fairs are presented by galleries from around the world, exhibiting modern and contemporary art in a variety of media including painting, photography, sculpture, and mixed media. For more information visit: artaspen.com

About Clarion Events
 Clarion Events can trace its roots back to 1947 and takes great pride in being one of the oldest independent event organizers in the UK. The teams at Clarion create uniquely effective and stimulating environments that can serve as a platform to build businesses, enhance customer relationships and accelerate product awareness. More recently the firm has developed an international portfolio of brands and now delivers more than 200 events in over 20 countries. For more information visit: clarionevents.com

Fair Hours
Thursday, July 25th - 5pm to 9pm
VIP Opening Night Preview to benefit The Art Base
Sponsored by Aspen Peak Magazine

Friday, July 26th - 12-7pm
11:00am-1:00pm VIP Fair Tour followed by Mimosa Brunch at the Richard Millie Store, Sponsored by Richard Millie and Galerie Magazine
12:30pm, 4:00pm Fair Tours with Jenna Moe
5:00pm-7:00pm Aspen Sojourner Cocktail Reception to benefit RESPONSE

Saturday, July 27th - 12-7pm
2:00pm-3:00pm Uproot: A Conversation About Plants, Humanity, and Faux Utopia with artist Adrienne Elise Tarver and Marnie Benney
4:00pm-5:00pm VIP Fair Tour and Artist Studio Visit

Sunday, July 28th - 12-5pm
12:00pm-1:00pm VIP Fair Tour and Artist Studio Visit
3:00pm-4:00pm VIP Fair Tour and Artist Studio Visit

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