The AD ART SHOW —the annual showcase for advertising professionals’ artworks—has returned to the Oculus at Westfield World Trade Center for its third edition. For the whole of the month of September, the creative works of 135 international advertising professionals will be displayed in high resolution on monumental screens throughout the downtown shopping and transit hub. The works presented will range from painting and sculpture to photography and mixed media.

“We are bridging the gap between the art and advertising world by championing the next generation of artists from advertising, following in the footsteps of famous artists like Andy Warhol, Rene Magritte, Mark Rothko, and countless other now-famous artists who came from the advertising world,” said Maria van Vlodrop, the show’s founder and CEO.

Like every art event in recent months, the AD ART SHOW faced its fair share of obstacles getting off the ground, with the foot traffic-driven show rescheduling from May to September. “The artists were behind us and I’m very proud of how they supported the change—not knowing if September was going to go the way of May,” explained Van Vlodrop.  

Anton Pitkänen, Talk By the River. Courtesy of the AD ART SHOW.

Some silver linings emerged from the move, however: the already-digital fair was able to enhance its existing online platform and add new features to enhance community engagement, including a special section highlighting Black artists titled “Don’t Silence Our Voices.”

“Our show-within-a-show opens an art-world door to under-the-radar Black artists from outside the usual art school to art gallery channels,” Van Vlodrop said. The show will also raise money for City Harvest.

Jessica Alazraki, Together. Courtesy of the AD ART SHOW.

What’s more, this year the fair awarded a specialty Clio award for excellence in contemporary art to a featured artist. The prize went to Helsinki-based art director and graphic designer Anton Pitkänen for his poetic images inspired by the natural world. Artists Jessica Alazraki and David Straange were also recognized as 2020 winning artists, selected by a jury of contemporary art collectors chaired by New Museum board member Laura Skoler. The three winning artists will receive professional art critique sessions to help further their careers. 

David Straange, New Moon. Courtesy of the AD ART SHOW.

The AD ART SHOW 2020 is on view through September 30th, and for those unable to attend in person, it will also be accessible through virtual tours, online artist and collector interviews, and live-streaming from the Oculus. A special treat is in store for those who stop by the show: Eataly is offering a free coffee and a sweet to all in-person attendees. 

Learn more about the AD ART SHOW here.