What Is The Armory Show? 

Masterworks
August 11, 2022

The Armory Show has been an integral part of NYC’s art scene since its inception 27 years ago. The fair plays a leading role in the city’s position as an essential cultural capital through its expansive presentations, curated programming, and institutional partnerships with the likes of MoMA and The Met.

What Are Some of The Works Shown at The Armory Show?

The Armory Show features a diverse range of artwork within 20th and 21st-century Contemporary art. The selection of artwork includes Modern art, American art, Latin American art, and more.

Along with independent artists being able to showcase their new projects, many international galleries exhibit their own booths at the fair in hopes of impressing curators, directors, and partnerships.

Some artworks range from small paintings to large-scale installations and sculptures.

History of the Armory Show

Four New York art dealers had an ambitious goal of founding a new art fair that would attract the attention of their artists. In 1994, the Armory show opened its doors at the Gramercy Park Hotel. The Gramercy International Art Fair, as it was then called, was the first of its kind and quickly became a critical hit, admired for showing exclusively new works by living artists.

In 1999, after several successful years, the fair moved locations from the Gramercy Park Hotel to a larger venue at the 69th Regiment Armory on Lexington Avenue. The fair was then renamed “The Armory Show” in honor of the regiment 1913 solo exhibition of the same name, showcasing avant-garde artworks by European artists previously unknown in America.

In 2002 the Armory Art Commission was established. The commission’s mission was to extend the fair’s support to living artists by spotlighting the work of a different artist each year. Some examples of past years have included Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Xu Zhen, and Theaster Gates.

The fair expanded in 2009 by moving to Piers 92 & 94 and with a new exhibition titled The Armory Show – Modern on Pier 92. The introduction presented masterworks of the 20th century. The exhibit brought a historical perspective to the fair’s theme and artworks. In 2016 The Armory Show and Armory-modern merged as one.

The Armory Show was then a dedicated fair to exhibit 20th and 21st-century artwork. This change was fueled by wanting to increase the curatorial focus of the fair by providing a means to foster young galleries and large-scale artists’ commissions.

The annual art fair is considered the unofficial kickoff of the New York fall art season. The Armory Show continues its legacy as a gateway to New York’s art scene, connecting art lovers to exhibitors at the fair including New York City galleries, museums, arts organizations, artists, and collectors.

In 2021, the Armory made its final location move to the then-newly-expanded Javits Center.

What Days are the Armory Show This Year?

The 2022 public dates are:

Friday, September 9, 12-8 pm

Saturday, September 10, 12-7 pm

Sunday, September 11, 12-6 pm

Is There a VIP Ticket Option for The Armory show?

The armory show offers a VIP preview by invitation only on Thursday, September 8th. For inquiries on VIP access, email vip@thearmoryshow.com.

How Much Are Tickets to The Armory Show?

General admission single-day tickets are priced at $55 per head. But there are other ticket options below:

Three-day pass, unlimited entry: $130

Senior 65 + single day pass: $35

Student ticket single day pass: $35

Group Ticket ( 10 or more people) single-day entry: $45


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