The Armory turns 100 this year. To mark the special occasion, I asked one of our favorite curators, Kathy Grayson of The Hole, to walk me through the art fair and point out the pieces she liked or just found plain interesting.
We began by wandering around Pier 94 viewing the contemporary art. Before I knew it, I was running around trying to keep up with Kathy's eye, taking notes on each artist, and shaking the hands of the countless gallery directors she stopped to chat with. I quickly became overwhelmed by all of the information, but never by Kathy's enthusiasm. Interestingly, many of the Danish artists currently showing at her gallery's Chicken or Beef? exhibit had works on display at several booths, confirming Kathy's sixth sense for the good stuff.
After the fair, we stopped at a shop where an old man sold statues and magical candles. Kathy talked to him with the same curiosity that she had spoken with the gallerists at the fair––apparently she hadn't tired of exploring the meaning and aesthetics of strange objects! Only when she realized that she was late for the ArtForum dinner did the questions stop. Thank you Kathy for the exceptional tour!
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Assume Vivid Astro Focus at The Suzanne Geiss Company booth
![]()
Kathy in front of Suzanne Geiss booth
Devin Troy Strother
Allora & Calzadilla huge print on linen at Lisson Gallery booth
A Tal R piece
Barbara Kruger
Bjarne Melgaard and Sverre Bjertnes installation
Bjarne Melgaard and Sverre Bjertnes piece about Mary Boone
Bjarne Melgaard and Sverre Bjertnes
Chatting with Camillo Alvarez who owns Samson Projects
Inside Samson Projects
Cecily Brown monotype
Frank Ammerlaan
Door (CBGBs version) by Graham Dolphin
Barry McGee
Israel Lund (detail)
Tony Tasset snowman at Kavi Gupta booth
![]()
Scott Reeder
Jon Pylypchuk
![]()
Kathy sharing her enthusiasm with the owner of
We began by wandering around Pier 94 viewing the contemporary art. Before I knew it, I was running around trying to keep up with Kathy's eye, taking notes on each artist, and shaking the hands of the countless gallery directors she stopped to chat with. I quickly became overwhelmed by all of the information, but never by Kathy's enthusiasm. Interestingly, many of the Danish artists currently showing at her gallery's Chicken or Beef? exhibit had works on display at several booths, confirming Kathy's sixth sense for the good stuff.
After the fair, we stopped at a shop where an old man sold statues and magical candles. Kathy talked to him with the same curiosity that she had spoken with the gallerists at the fair––apparently she hadn't tired of exploring the meaning and aesthetics of strange objects! Only when she realized that she was late for the ArtForum dinner did the questions stop. Thank you Kathy for the exceptional tour!
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory29.jpg)
Assume Vivid Astro Focus at The Suzanne Geiss Company booth
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory23.jpg)
Kathy in front of Suzanne Geiss booth
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory2.jpg)
Devin Troy Strother
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory3.jpg)
Allora & Calzadilla huge print on linen at Lisson Gallery booth
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory5.jpg)
A Tal R piece
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory6.jpg)
Barbara Kruger
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory7.jpg)
Bjarne Melgaard and Sverre Bjertnes installation
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory8.jpg)
Bjarne Melgaard and Sverre Bjertnes piece about Mary Boone
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory9.jpg)
Bjarne Melgaard and Sverre Bjertnes
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory10.jpg)
Chatting with Camillo Alvarez who owns Samson Projects
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory11.jpg)
Inside Samson Projects
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory12.jpg)
Cecily Brown monotype
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory13.jpg)
Frank Ammerlaan
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory14.jpg)
Door (CBGBs version) by Graham Dolphin
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory15.jpg)
Barry McGee
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory16.jpg)
Israel Lund (detail)
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory17.jpg)
Tony Tasset snowman at Kavi Gupta booth
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory34.jpg)
Scott Reeder
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory19.jpg)
Jon Pylypchuk
![](http://www.openingceremony.us/userfiles/image/news/mar13/031013-arm/031113-armory18.jpg)
Kathy sharing her enthusiasm with the owner of