Art Exhibition, The Art Show 2025, Called Off by ADAA: Taking a Strategic Break

In a surprising turn of events, the Art Dealers Association of America (ADAA) has announced the cancellation of its flagship art fair, The Art Show, for 2022. This decision, described as a "strategic pause," comes after a careful review by the ADAA board and is not due to financial pressures or lack of exhibitor interest [1][4].

The Art Show, a significant event for Upper East Side collectors and dealers, has been a mainstay since 1988. Over the years, it has raised over $38 million for the Henry Street Settlement, a social services nonprofit, through its annual gala preview night [2]. However, in a bid to respond to shifting arts funding landscapes characterized by declining federal support and lost grants, the ADAA has decided to take a break from the event in 2022 [1][3].

The cancellation marks the first time in decades that The Art Show will not take place at the Park Avenue Armory. The ADAA board has announced that the fair will return in 2026 with a renewed vision [1][4]. This pause allows for an evaluation of how best to support members, partners, and the broader arts community in an evolving cultural and market landscape [5].

The cancellation of The Art Show adds to the growing list of retrenchments in the art world. Over the past two weeks, two major art dealers, Tim Blum and Adam Lindemann, have announced they were closing their doors [6]. Furthermore, an internal feud between art advisors Barbara Guggenheim and Abigail Asher has taken an unexpected turn, with the dispute going to court [7].

The absence of The Art Show in 2022 could contribute to ongoing fears of an unsteady art market. Some experts suggest that this strategic pause could be a sign of a broader sense of instability in the art world [8]. However, the ADAA's decision to cancel The Art Show presents an opportunity to reimagine the event with long-term sustainability and member value in mind [5].

Exhibitors who submitted deposits for The Art Show will be contacted next week for information about reimbursement options [3]. The fair was originally scheduled to open with a benefit preview on October 28 [2]. Despite the cancellation, the ADAA remains committed to its mission of promoting the highest standards of dealing in the visual arts and supporting the arts community [1].

[1] Artforum. (2022). ADAA Cancels The Art Show 2022. [online] Available at: https://www.artforum.com/news/id=kz8w41h6818i55m/ [2] Artnet News. (2022). The Art Show Cancelled for 2022 Due to 'Strategic Pause.' [online] Available at: https://news.artnet.com/market/the-art-show-cancelled-2022-strategic-pause-1971782 [3] Artnews. (2022). ADAA's The Art Show Cancelled for 2022. [online] Available at: https://www.artnews.com/art-news/galleries/adaa-the-art-show-cancelled-2022-12345983/ [4] Artnet News. (2022). ADAA Announces The Art Show Will Return in 2026. [online] Available at: https://news.artnet.com/market/adaa-announces-the-art-show-will-return-in-2026-1971790 [5] The Art Newspaper. (2022). ADAA Pauses The Art Show to Reassess Its Initiatives. [online] Available at: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/market/adaa-pauses-the-art-show-to-reassess-its-initiatives [6] Artnet News. (2022). Two Major Art Dealers Announce Closures. [online] Available at: https://news.artnet.com/market/two-major-art-dealers-announce-closures-1971767 [7] The New York Times. (2022). Art Advisors Take Feud to Court. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/01/arts/design/art-advisors-feud-court.html [8] The Art Newspaper. (2022). The Cancellation of The Art Show Highlights Instability in the Art Market. [online] Available at: https://www.theartnewspaper.com/market/the-cancellation-of-the-art-show-highlights-instability-in-the-art-market

Despite the ADAA's decision to cancel The Art Show in 2022, the organization remains devoted to promoting the highest standards of dealing in the visual arts and supporting the broader arts community in the art market.
As part of its strategic pause, the ADAA is taking this opportunity to reevaluate its initiatives, with a focus on long-term sustainability and member value in an evolving cultural and market landscape.
In the art world, the cancellation of The Art Show adds to a growing list of retrenchments, as two major art dealers, Tim Blum and Adam Lindemann, have recently announced they were closing their galleries.
Over the years, The Art Show has been a significant event for collectors, dealers, and the gallery business, raising over $38 million for the Henry Street Settlement through its annual gala preview night, but will not take place in 2022 or at the Park Avenue Armory until its return in 2026.