The Artsy Guide to NADA New York

This May, NADA New York returns for its third edition with a dynamic lineup of 87 exhibitors, including 22 project booths—the highest number to date. Additionally, fairgoers will experience exclusive collaborations with Phaidon, American Apparel, tours given by The Observer’s GalleristNY, a poetry marathon, and special programming for the younger set.

1. When? Where? How?

NADA New York 2014 takes place May 9th–11th on Pier 36 at Basketball City (299 South Street on the East River, New York, NY 10002). Best of all, this not-for-profit art fair is free and open to the public!

2. Why visit?

In addition to being a renowned art fair, NADA is a unique forum to discover underexposed art. Coinciding with Frieze New York, NADA offers an alternative take on contemporary art fairs through a non-profit model and a high quality, global selection of young galleries, art organizations, and artists.

3. What is NADA?

New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) is a not-for-profit that was founded in 2002 by a group of contemporary art professionals. Its purpose is to make contemporary art more accessible to the general public and to support emerging artists, curators, and galleries. NADA fosters an open, cooperative community of individuals from art galleries, nonprofits, institutions, and other art organizations. In addition to fairs, NADA regularly organizes events including artist talks, gallery tours, benefits for charitable institutions, seminars, and panel discussions. There are three NADA art fairs each year, all of which are free and open to the public.

4. NADA Projects

The fair continues its tradition of NADA Projects, a section of booths dedicated to unique and innovative projects, including a number of artist-run organizations. Highlights include Magic Flying Carpets, INTERSTATE, KINMAN, Jackie Klempay, Knowmoregames, What Pipeline, and Sargent’s Daughters.

5. NADA by American Apparel

NADA joins forces with American Apparel again to offer a line of artist-designed and limited-edition clothing. The line will be available at an American Apparel pop-up shop located at the fair, as well as online and at select retail stores.

6. BAM + NADA Portfolio

The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and NADA team up to present a portfolio of unique prints by a dozen of the most exciting artists working today. Artists involved are Joshua Abelow, Sascha Braunig, Sarah Crowner, Alex Da Corte, Michael DeLucia, Christian Holstad, Zak Kitnick, Margaret Lee, Sam Moyer, Ulrike Müller, Zak Prekop, and Michael Williams. Priced at $3,000 for the portfolio, this is a great opportunity to purchase works by popular contemporary artists at an accessible price. Prints can be viewed and purchased on Artsy, here.

In tandem with their publication Art Cities of the Future, Phaidon (who also share their picks at the fair) spotlights two non-profits, Beta-Local in Puerto Rico, and the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), to offer insights into their respective local art scenes. Each organization will have a space at the fair to showcase their programs.

On Sunday, May 11, at 2pm, Independent Curators International (ICI) partners with Beta-Local to present “El Local Club,” a discussion of Caribbean influences in artistic practice and production. Find out more, here.

Luxembourg/New York-based gallery Shoot the Lobster presents a group show and installation on the occasion of NADA, which will take place in a 1964 black Ford Galaxie 500 parked in the lot outside of Pier 36. Artists involved include Ryan Foerster, Justin Lieberman, Denise Kupferschmidt, Eddie Martinez, and Nicholas Buffon, among others.

GalleristNY editors Sarah Douglas and Andrew Russeth will lead hour-long tours of NADA New York. Each tour will offer insights on a selection of fair booths and exhibiting artists, aimed toward a wide audience, from established collectors to first-time fairgoers.

10. Contemporary Poetry

On Saturday, May 10, from 12 to 6pm, NADA presents Contemporary Poetry, a marathon poetry reading led by 30 up-and-coming and established New York-based poets. Curated by Sam Gordon, the program will take place at the fair, in the Tacombi Lounge upstairs. Find the full schedule, here.

NADA partners with Artadia for the fourth time to distinguish a single artist exhibiting at NADA through an award with a $4,000 prize. Two highly esteemed, international curators jury the prize, and will announce the winner on Saturday, May 10th. Past winners include Ryan Foerster and Meg Cranston.

LittleCollector, which works with artists to make contemporary art accessible for the younger set, will return to NADA with workshops and tours that cater to children. Artists Amy Stevens and Shelter Serra will be on site to offer workshops on photography and painting.

To RSVP contact [email protected].

Workshops: Saturday, May 10, 11:30AM, $20 and Sunday, May 11, 11:30AM, $20

Tours: Sunday, May 11 at 1PM, free with advanced RSVP

Explore NADA New York on Artsy.