2019 in Review
EXPO CHICAGO concluded its eighth edition with record attendance of international collectors and curators alongside 38,000 visitors, exceptional presentations from exhibiting galleries and strong sales, in what was its most global edition to date. On opening day alone, the exposition welcomed more than 8,000 VIP guests while raising $265,000 to benefit the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago during Vernissage. Collectors, curators, artists and art enthusiasts enjoyed an exclusive first look at 135 leading galleries from 24 countries and 68 cities throughout Navy Pier’s iconic Festival Hall.
EXPO CHICAGO welcomed back many returning galleries for 2019 as well as several new additions, whose curated and ambitious presentations drew critical praise. Exhibitors both new and returning noted that they received strong support from both nationally and internationally renowned collectors, museum curators and institutions, along with the greater Midwest collector base.
Read more highlights from the 2019 edition of EXPO CHICAGO here.
PRESS HIGHLIGHTS
What Sold at EXPO CHICAGO | Artsy
Big Galleries in the Windy City | artnet News
EXPO CHICAGO Engages Local Arts Community | Berlin Art Link
African American Art And A Ship Of Tolerance: Highlights of EXPO CHICAGO | Harper's Bazaar
EXHIBITOR TESTIMONIALS
“It was our first year at EXPO CHICAGO and our decision to participate was significantly influenced by our appreciation of the outstanding institutions in the city and the collectors based here and in the wider Chicago area who are very important to us. We have certainly benefitted from new connections with collectors and representatives from museums."
— Thaddaeus Ropac | GALERIE THADDAEUS ROPAC
“It has been an incredible experience for the gallery to return to EXPO CHICAGO after a number of years. We sold works across the board by our programs artists; Alex Katz, Eduardo Terrazas, Gabriel de La Mora, Eddie Martinez, Annie Morris & Sean Scully. In addition to strong sales, we had many interesting conversations with a considered and knowledgeable collecting community. We look forward to coming back next year. A big thank you to the fair organizers who made the experience seamless and welcoming.”
— Tarka Russell | Timothy Taylor
"We are thrilled to be here for the first time, meeting incredible people, from collectors to museum directors and curators. We are also very impressed with the level of the collections we have been visiting. We hope to keep coming back and doing business in Chicago for a long time."
— Thiago Gomide | Galeria Bergamin & Gomide
"The energy this year felt very positive. We were so pleased to return and felt especially welcomed by Chicago's collectors and institutions. Highlights from Lisson Gallery's sales include Stanley Whitney's On the Way to Summer, 2007 as well as a number of his works on paper. Other selections include a work on paper by Carmen Herrera, Channa Horwitz's Canon Eleven Moiré Four, 1984, an oil and ink drawing from Wael Shawky's The Gulf Project Camp and a recent painting by French abstract painter, Bernard Piffaretti, among others. In all, it was a successful fair for Lisson Gallery, and we feel encouraged about future editions of EXPO CHICAGO."
— Jeannie Freilich | Lisson Gallery