Salon Art + Design Opening Night Sees Robust Sales, Benefits Dia

Salon Art + Design held its 11th opening night on Thursday, welcoming over 2,500 visitors to the Park Avenue Armory. Gallerists and visitors remarked on how, with less COVID restrictions, many international exhibitors had returned to the fair, giving a huge boost of energy to the evening. Co-chaired by Nathalie and Laura de Gunzburg, proceeds from opening night benefitted Dia Art Foundation.

“We have a very strong design ethos at Dia; we have a very particular style, stance and brand, so the idea of partnering with design makes a lot of sense for us,” said Dia Director Jessica Morgan.

A who’s who of the design world, including editors, collectors, architects and designers arrived at the very beginning of the champagne preview, 4 PM, to beat the crowds. Amy Astley, Muriel Brandolini, Renee Rockefeller, Rena Sindi,Tony Ingrao, Pietro Cicognani, Jane Krakowski and David Rockwell browsed the booths in search of perfect pieces for their clients or themselves.

“Everyone is so excited to be back,” said Liz O’Brien, who was showcasing a petal ceiling light by Stephen Antonson, commissioned especially for the occasion. “The fair has a great international feel, and great energy.”

“This fair is really very intense for New York collectors,” said Aline Chastel of Paris’ Galerie Chastel Marechal. “We have a rare pair of armchairs by Jean-Michel Frank, made very early in his career, in 1927. We also have a fantastic, rare, special order lamp by Jean Despres, and a collection of Line Vautrin mirrors. There has already been lots of interest.”

Benoist Drut, the owner of Maison Gerard, had the same optimistic feeling.

“It’s the first time in a long time that people have been responsive to our pre-fair emails,” said Drut. “Tonight is going to be a madhouse – we like that.”

Drut was showing a curved sofa by Georgis & Migorodsky that was the hit of the fair. Upholstered in green velvet, with rounded side tables attached, it was the epitome of chic, admired by designers Alex Papachristidis and Richard Mishaan and collector George Farias.

At Cristina Grajales, iconic photographer Firooz Zahedi had three of his works on view.

“These photos were from slides that I took in the 80’s,” said Zahedi. “One of my slides had been damaged by moisture and the colors ran in to each other, creating these beautiful images. So I decided to damage a bunch of old slides on purpose – and sure enough the colors melded into each other.” Two of the images were of James Dean in Giant, photographed from a television set, and the third was of a model who looked like Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Zahedi, who will be signing copies of his latest book at the Grajales booth on Saturday, was walking the fair with his wife, highly respected collector Beth DeWoody.

“I’ve seen some great things here tonight,” said DeWoody. “For example, Lynn Chadwick candlesticks, and a little Cesar sculpture, at Le Breton, a gallery from Monaco which I love. Also, Randy Palumbo’s Love Sack at Cristina Grajales is amazing, and The Future Perfect is selling these wonderful heads by LA-based artist Eric Roinestad.”

New Delhi-based Klove Studio was showing three spectacular totems, intricate light fixtures representing protection, abundance and beauty.

“It’s our first time exhibiting in New York,” said Klove Studio’s Gautam Seth. “Each year we do a series of different totems.”

The Salon Art + Design will be on view through November 14.