Few pursuits are more rewarding that curating your art collection—selecting pieces that reflect your personal aesthetic, discovering emerging talent, and connecting with creative voices that truly move you. You can’t go wrong with name recognition, but some of the most compelling finds come from looking a little closer to home.
Here are a few New Jersey galleries showcasing an impressive range of artists from the Garden State and beyond—each offering inspiration, discovery and plenty to admire.
Art 629, Asbury Park. On display until April 9 at this contemporary gallery is NJ artist Brittany James, with an exhibition entitled “Now and Then.”
Great Brook Gallery, New Vernon. If your tastes lean more toward fine art, this gallery curates and displays talent from all over the country. You’ll also find work from Garden State natives here (check out John C Traynor, Todd L.W. Doney and Justine Réneau Perdunn Kovacs).
Monmouth Museum, Middletown. The 46th Annual Juried Art Exhibition opens on March 15, and you can see new pieces by contemporary artists. All were chosen around the theme “A Time Within a Time,” which invites artists to reflect on the relationship of past, present.
Morris Arts Atrium Gallery, Morristown. Until March 17, see Visual Meditations: Line, Color & Form, which spotlights six contemporary artists from all over New Jersey (plus one from NYC).
The Ridgewood Art Institute, Ridgewood. Come see the 46th Annual Open Juried Show, on display until March 22. You’ll see Classic Realism pieces from artists all over the country done oils, watercolors, charcoal, graphite and pastels.
Go abroad
Browsing galleries and connecting with curators is always rewarding, but it’s often a slow process. Here’s a thought—What if the world’s best could be at your fingertips all at once, and you could explore great cities at the same time? International art fairs offer just that.
For the best, the brightest and the most exclusive of the art world, take part in:
The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF) Maastricht, March 14–19, Maastricht, the Netherlands. Everything from paintings by the Old Masters to up-and-coming contemporary artists will be on display.
Outsider Art Fair, March 19–22, New York City. If you’re looking for the strange, the quirky and the unique, this is the stop for you. International galleries dedicated to self-taught and Outsider Art gather in NYC.
Salon du Dessin, March 25-30, Paris, France. Dedicated to drawings and other works on paper, you’ll find beautiful works in ancient, modern and contemporary art here.
Art Basel Hong Kong, March 27–29, Hong Kong, China. See a showcase of the features from premier galleries from Asia and beyond, focusing on contemporary works.
SP–Arte, April 8–12, São Paulo, Brazil. The leading art fair in Latin America will present hundreds of artists at the beautiful Ciccillo Matarazzo Pavilion.
Artexpo New York, April 9–12, New York City. This fine-art trade show will allow you to browse work from 400 premier galleries and emerging artists from around the planet.
EXPO Chicago, April 9–12, Chicago. Contemporary and modern art galleries galore gather here for your browsing, plus state-of-the-art installations, artist talks and more.
Art Düsseldorf, April 17–19, Düsseldorf, Germany. Though focused on living and contemporary artists, this fair also reflects the art-historical relevance of the city. More info: art-dus.de
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