Long considered the world's premier fairs for outstanding contemporary decorative arts and design, the next edition of SOFA, the 12th annual international Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair in New York City will feature an unrivalled range of contemporary decorative arts and design. Slated for April 16 through 19, 2009 with an Opening Night Preview Gala on Wednesday, April 15 at the historic Park Avenue Armory, SOFA NEW YORK regularly draws record numbers of collectors, curators, architects, interior designers and new enthusiasts.'' Among the many artists coveted by collectors and curators is ceramicist Miyashita Zenji, renowned as a living legend in Japan and represented in museums far beyond Asia, showing at SOFA NY with New York dealer Joan B. Mirviss Ltd. She is presenting the first solo show of the artist outside Japan, as well as ceramics by other Japanese artists.'' Silver and gold sculpture, vessels and jewelry are also highly sought by a growing band of collectors."Because of the inherent value of silver, we're seeing a consistently strong demand for silver art objects and it's not letting up," says Clare Beck at Adrian Sassoon in London. "The sense of luxury coupled with intricate craftsmanship of hand forging attracts clients to precious metals," she says. On their stand will be silversmith Junko Mori whose hand forged sculptural objects are inspired by actual plants and pine cones, and begin at $8,000. Plus, Mori is participating in the SOFA NY Salon Artists Conversations, which along with an acclaimed lecture series, is free to SOFA attendees. Interestingly, at Sassoon's last SOFA NEW YORK show, Europeans like the Brits and Italians shopped his stand.'' In addition, new dealer Alastair Crawford of Manhattan, who specializes in Georg Jensen silver, will be launching his own contemporary line of silver flatware with handles of jasper and lapins lazuli, along with silver and gold vessels as well as jewelry. "Many clients were asking for handmade silver examples and unique items and with this new dimension to my dealership, I can fulfill those requests,"
says Crawford, who is completing commissions for silver scones for a Dallas client. "I'm seeing clients seeking the security of investing in tangible assets like silver and gold that historically weathers recessions," he says. Other dealers seeing an uptick in gold artist jewelry include Aaron Faber Gallery, New York and Mob-ilia, Cambridge, MA.'' Then Philadelphia dealer Bob Abel, who heads up Modern Gallery, says "Studio furniture by the masters George Nakashima, Wharton Esherick and Sam M aloof remains in keen demand." He believes the strength of that market is because choice work by those designers fits in a wide range of stylistic interiors, including contemporary, Modernist and Asian. At the same time, their design sensibilities are in sync with today's emphasis on simplicity and integrity of materials. Due to his large holdings of such prized design, Aibel has been interviewed in Wallpaper magazine and the German AD singled him out as "the world's leading Nakashima dealer." Architects and interior designers on his client list include Michael Smith, whose clients include President Barack Obama, and Thad Hayes and Alan Wanzenberg. On his stand will be two rare Nakashima consoles dating from the seventies as well as an early coffee table.'' artwork: Betty Woodman - winged vessel.''
Florida-based private dealer Donna Schneider cites iconic examples by pioneers of the studio ceramics and glass movements such as Betty Woodman, Harvey Littleton and Toshiko Takaezu as "really recession proof…While those artists are frequently exhibited in fine art museums, they can be acquired for a fraction of the cost of contemporary art and more importantly, their names will live on for centuries," says Schneier. She is witnessing another market shift. "Especially in the past year, I'm seeing younger collectors, many totally new to field, taking on classic work as objects of beauty and a proven asset class all rolled into one,"
says Schneier, who has regularly achieved sales to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, among others.'' Glass by leading artists is another "blue chip investment category" according to Doug Heller, who heads up Heller Gallery in Tribe-ca. He is featuring work by four artists: Lino Tagliapietra, who taught secret Venetian glass blowing technique to Dale Chihuly as well as a host of other Americans; and Nicole Chesney, noted for her cast glass wall sculptures referencing color-field paintings, as well as Danes Steffen Dam and Tobias Mohl. Heller says of the latter, "Their sales in the past two months are both impressive and consistent." An added bonus for collectors is a Tobias Mohl costs only $5,500 to $17,500. "Today, more clients want something of lasting beauty by an artist who is making a considerable impact in the larger art world," says Heller who just confirmed two corporate commissions for Lino, a museum acquisition for Steffen Dam, and a private commission for Tobias Mohl.'' SOFA NEW YORK 2009 will be presented April 16 – 19th at the Park Avenue Armory, Park Ave. at 67th. Opening Night, Wednesday, Aprl 15, 5:30 – 9 pm; non-VIP card holders may purchase tickets for $100.00 online or at the door. Exposition hours are Thursday & Friday, April 16-17: 11 am – 8 pm; Saturday, April 18: 11 am – 7 pm; Sunday, April 19: Noon – 6pm. Tickets are $25 for a single day of general admission and $40 for a four-day pass; both include catalog.''
