After Fizzling in Los Angeles, Paris Photo Makes Another Bid for the US Market With a New York Fair

The new fair replaces the long-running Photography Show.

A visitor to the Photography Show by AIPAD takes a photo of Casper Faassen's Yuka (2019), presented by Ibasho Gallery. Photo by Kristina Nazarevskaia for galleryIntell, courtesy of AIPAD.

There’s a new art fair in town. Paris Photo will once again launch a US edition, this time in New York, as a replacement for the long-running Photography Show, which was founded in 1980 and was run by the Association of International Photography Art Dealers. AIPAD will partner with Paris Photo to present the new show, which will take place in April at New York’s Pier 94.

The new venture comes after three years of discussions between the two organization. “Paris Photo and AIPAD are the two major and complimentary players in the photography market,” AIPAD president Richard Moore said in an email to artnet News. “Both have a long history and common mission to support and nurture the development of photography.”

As part of the new arrangement, AIPAD members will “receive special benefits in applying” for Paris Photo New York, and AIPAD hopes to be able to develop new non-profit initiatives and year-round educational programming.

Guests at the Photography Show by AIPAD in 2019. Photo by Kristina Nazarevskaia for galleryIntell, courtesy of AIPAD.

Guests at the Photography Show by AIPAD in 2019. Photo by Kristina Nazarevskaia for galleryIntell, courtesy of AIPAD.

Paris Photo is the world’s biggest dedicated photography fair. Founded in 1997, it launched a Los Angeles version in 2013. Fair owner Reed Exhibitions cancelled the fourth edition just months before it was due to open. (Plans for FIAC Los Angeles were similarly scrapped.)

At the time, organizers left the door open for future ventures in the US, telling artnet News that “we continue to explore other paths for the international development and expansion of our fairs.”

“Sales simply didn’t meet the expectations of the galleries at Paris Photo LA, and the success of any art fair relies on the success of its exhibitors,” said Moore, who expects New York, as a historic capital for photography, will be a better fit. “Building on the framework of an existing fair is an excellent way to mitigate the risks.”

Paris Photo director Florence Bourgeois and artistic director Christoph Wiesner will oversee the new fair.

“We are very excited to create a bridge connecting Paris and New York,” said the pair in a joint statement. “The enthusiasm of many of our long-time exhibitors and our network of collectors and curators is indicative of strong potential for Paris Photo New York, to establish itself successfully in the American market.”

Paris Photo New York, presented with AIPAD, will be on view at Pier 94, 711 12th Avenue, New York, April 1–5, 2020.


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