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The third edition of Art Southampton, the leading international contemporary and modern art fair for acquiring investment quality works of art opened last night with huge success, where top collectors, curators, art advisors and influencers kicked off the weekend-long event. Taking place on the 18-acre estate behind the Southampton Elks Lodge, the Platinum VIP saw over 1,500 top collectors of the East End, and throughout the elegant evening, attendance exceeded last year’s VIP Preview of 4,200 guests.

Art Southampton returns at the height of the social and cultural season, and is most acclaimed for bringing a unique assortment of world class art complimented by leading luxury purveyors. The Platinum VIP Preview served as the first opportunity for   established collectors to acquire desirable blue-chip  and emerging artworks from international art galleries with a strong focus on the 20th and 21st centuries. The collection of works highlights a variety of media including paintings, photography, prints, drawings, design, video art, sculpture and indoor and outdoor curated projects.

“The opening was well attended and spirited. We saw strong interest in many works by vintage names in abstract expressionism, such as Sam Francis, Robert Motherwell, and Joseph Conrad,” commented Hollis Taggart, owner of the eponymous gallery.  By the end of the evening,  Taggart had recorded  a sale of an Allan D’ Arcangelo work entitled “Aspen” 1967 for over six figures.

Abby M. Taylor who has well respected galleries in New York and Greenwich emphasized Art Southampton’s Platinum VIP preview drew the most discerning collectors saying, “We come to this fair because we know that there are extremely sophisticated collectors here whom we would usually see in New York. Not only do they know Calder but they also know who Richard Pousette – Dart is,” referencing the abstract expressionist and founder of the New YorkSchool.

Jess De La Hunty with UK’s Other Criteria  – founded by Damien Hirst – echoed her feeling by stating,   “Art Southampton and its sister fair Art Miami are great fairs precisely because they draw a really educated audience who knows what they are looking at. For example, the collectors in attendance  tonight know all about Don Brown and come here specifically to purchase his work.”

New to Art Southampton this year is Catinca Tabacaru Gallery from New York’s Lower East Side and known for is international roster of young, emerging, and established artists.  Director of Sales Lauren Licata was extraordinarily impressed with the fair and delighted to report,  “We sold three works and have many on hold.”

Unlike many art fair previews that become largely social events, Art Southampton’s preview was decidedly different as most of the booths were filled with collectors inquiring about specific artists.

There were far less “Sunday strollers” and more serious collectors in search of their next acquisition. Many of the exhibiting works were purchased and placed on reserve throughout the VIP opening.

“There was overwhelming support of the arts and a heightened energy at last night’s Platinum VIP Preview, “ said Nick Korniloff, Director of Art Southampton. “We saw a huge turnout of top international collectors, museum curators, advisers and notables from the art community and are thrilled to have them here to enjoy  the finest works of art  in an elegant environment. I feel honored to be surrounded by such a wonderful group of galleries, sponsors, partners, artists and guests who made this such a successful evening.”

The extensive 100,000 square-foot pavilion was filled with VIP guests viewing works by more than 660 artists from over 43 countries. Champagne was flowing at the Ruinart  Champagne Bar in the Maserati VIP Lounge curated by Luxe Interiors + Design and designed by Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams. Collectors mingled, enjoyed flutes of Ruinart Champagne, nibbled on lobster rolls and salmon bites, catered by Southampton Social Club. Guests admired the stunning GRAFF diamond-filled vitrines as statuesque models adorned in magnificent GRAFF jewels strolled though the aisles.

Exhibiting galleries include: ABBY M. TAYLOR FINE ART GREENWICH | AMSTEL GALLERY AMSTERDAM  | AMY LI GALLERY BEIJING  |  ANTOINE HELWASER GALLERY NEW YORK |  AP CONTEMPORARY HONG KONG  |  ARCATURE FINE ART PALM BEACH | ARCHEUS / POST-MODERN BATH UK |  ARDT GALLERY SOUTHAMPTON |  ART LEXING MIAMI |  ART NOUVEAU GALLERY MIAMI  |  BERNHEIMER FINE ART LUCERNE |  BICHA GALLERY LONDON |  BIRNAM WOOD GALLERIES NEW YORK |  BLACK & WHITE GALLERY/PROJECT SPACE  BROOKLYN  |  BLANK SPACE NEW YORK  |  CALDWELL SNYDER GALLERY SAN FRANCISCO  |  CATINCA TABACARU GALLERY NEW YORK |  CHOWAIKI & CO. NEW YORK  |  CLAIRE OLIVER GALLERY NEW YORK  |  CONTESSA GALLERY CLEVELAND  |  CUBE GALLERY LONDON  |  CYNTHIA CORBETT GALLERY LONDON  |  DE BUCK GALLERY NEW YORK |  DEAN PROJECT MIAMI BEACH  |  DILLON GALLERY NEW YORK  |  DORFMAN PROJECTS NEW YORK  |  DORIAN GREY GALLERY NEW YORK  |  ECKERT FINE ART MILLERTON NY  |  ELIZABETH CLEMENT FINE ART NEW YORK  |  ERIC FIRESTONE GALLERY EAST HAMPTON  |  FLOWERS NEW YORK  |  GALERIE ANITA BECKERS FRANKFURT   |  GALERIE CATHERINE ET ANDRE HUG PARIS  |  GALERIE GAIA SEOUL  |  GALERIE HAFENRICHTER NÜRNBERG  |  GALERIE JULIANE HUNDERTMARK BERLIN  |  GALERIE MARK HACHEM PARIS  |  GALERIE TERMINUS MUNICH |  GALLERIA CA’ D’ORO MIAMI  |  GALLERY 125 BELLPORT NY+WATERMILL NY |  GALLERY HO NEW YORK |  GALLERY NINE5 NEW YORK  |  GALLERY VALENTINE EAST HAMPTON  |  GAMO GALLERY  SEOUL  |  HACKELBURY FINE ART LONDON  |  HAGEDORN FOUNDATION GALLERY ATLANTA  |  HELLER GALLERY NEW YORK  | HEXTON MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY NORTHBROOK IL  |  HOLLIS TAGGART GALLERIES NEW YORK |  J.CACCIOLA GALLERY NEW YORK |  JACKSON FINE ART ATLANTA |  JANKOSSEN CONTEMPORARY BASEL |  JERALD MELBERG GALLERY CHARLOTTE |  KATHARINA RICH PERLOW FINE ARTS NEW YORK |  KAVACHNINA CONTEMPORARY MIAMI  |  KESZLER GALLERY SOUTHAMPTON |  LAUSBERG CONTEMPORARY DÜSSELDORF |  LAWRENCE FINE ART EAST HAMPTON |  MARKOWICZ FINE ART MIAMI |  MAYER FINE ART NORFOLK  |  MCNEILL ART GROUP SOUTHAMPTON |  MINDY SOLOMON GALLERY MIAMI |  MOREHOUSE GALLERY CHESTNUT HILL MA  | OTHER CRITERIA NEW YORK  |  PAN AMERICAN ART PROJECTS MIAMI  |  PETER MARCELLE GALLERY BRIDGEHAMPTON  |  PRAXIS INTERNATIONAL ART NEW YORK  |  ROSENBAUM CONTEMPORARY BOCA RATON  |  SAMMER GALLERY MIAMI  |  SAMUEL LYNNE GALLERIES DALLAS  |  SHINE ARTISTS LONDON  |  SPONDER GALLERY MIAMI  |  TAGLIALATELLA GALLERIES NEW YORK  |  TEN472 CONTEMPORARY ART NEVADA CITY CA  |  THE GREAT DANE COLLECTION PHILADELPHIA  |  THOMAS AND PAUL LONDON  |  UNIX GALLERY NEW YORK  |  VINCENT VALLARINO FINE ART NEW YORK  |  VOLTZ CLARKE NEW YORK  |  WOOLFF GALLERY LONDON  |  YAEL ROSENBLUT GALLERY NEW YORK  |  YOUNG ART GALLERY SEOUL