Inside The Society Of MSK’s TEFAF New York Collector’s Preview

The Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) once again hosted TEFAF’s Spring New York Collector’s Preview at the Park Avenue Armory Thursday night. The evening raised $440,000, which will benefit the MSK programs supported by The Society.

“We are the very fortunate beneficiaries of this opening night of TEFAF,” said Claudia Overstrom, President of The Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering. “It’s a European show; it’s the best of the best, so it’s wonderful to be associated with it. TEFAF is so appreciative, in return, to be in New York and to be associated with a truly special New York institution that makes such a difference in the lives of people around the world through its research.”

The fair was packed with collectors, many of them serious buyers, as sales were already brisk at the pre-opening.

“This fair is spectacularly varied and beautiful,” said art adviser Kim Heirston. We placed a lot of works, but we also didn’t get a lot of works – which means there is an active and thriving market.”

There was a lot of catching up to do, as European dealers, including Thaddaeus Ropac, Adrian Sassoon, and Edmondo di Robilant greeted their American collectors and fans, including Muffie Potter Aston and Sherrell Aston, Jamee and Peter Gregory, Mercedes de Guardiola, Betsy Pitts and Whitney Robinson.

“This is the 11th edition of our New York Spring fair,” said TEFAF President Hidde van Seggelen. “It has grown a lot, and we are connecting more and more with our audience. We are both a foundation, and an organization that is run for dealers, by dealers. We have a very strict vetting system – all the artworks on display have gone through a complete vetting process. This year the audience has gotten younger. We are seeing more of the new generation, and some are coming with their art advisers. Art is a great unifier; you can lose yourself in a fair like TEFAF. It’s that feeling that drives both dealers and collectors.”

Chesie Breen chatted with Brian Sawyer outside the Gagosian booth that featured delicate works by artist Anna Weyant.

“I fell in love with a pair of Lalanne monkeys!” exclaimed Sawyer. “They’re touching, they’re beautiful, and the finish is magnificent! I also saw some beautiful paintings and consoles at Friedman Benda.”

Stacey Bronfman and Alex Roepers stopped to chat with Rena Sindi and Makram Aboud, while Robert Couturier was shopping – and maybe buying.

“I saw a beautiful painting at Ben Brown, by a contemporary South Korean artist, and some amazing things at Carpenters Workshop, which I have always liked. But I have already bought some things there, and they were quite ruinous,” laughed Couturier.

One can only imagine the price of the exquisite large Lalanne apple at Jean-Gabriel Mitterrand’s booth, though there were many lovely mini Lalannes on offer as well.

“We love to have contact with our clients and collectors in New York,” said Mitterand. “They collect mostly Nikki de Saint-Phalle and Lalanne with us. It’s great to be at TEFAF, because it’s extremely active and elegant, and the highest quality dealers are here. We have already sold some pieces, and there has been lots of demand.”

Over at the Di Donna booth, the star pieces were a 1939 Picasso and a 1937 Leger.

“I love the scale of the fair, the quality of the exhibitors, and the design of the fair,” said Emmanuel Di Donna, who was exhibiting at the fair for the seventh time. “We can see all our clients in one place. The mood is upbeat, and there has been interest.”

Designer Alex Papachristidis was at the fair for five hours, and found many pieces for his clients, while Anjali Melwani and Kate Davis came for a first look.

“We already sold two paintings, so I’m happy,” said Per Skarstedt, who showed Eric Fischl’s hauntingly beautiful latest work. “It’s a very convenient fair – it’s on the Upper East Side, so people can come two or three times. It’s a nice atmosphere, it’s not too big – you can do the whole fair in less than an hour.”

Stellan Holm echoed Skarstedt’s enthusiasm.

“It’s a fantastic fair, and I’m very happy to be here,” said Holm. “There has been a lot of interest already – the mood is very good. We have already sold a couple of things. We have a very important Basquiat painting from 1982 for $13.5 million, and there has already been interest. We also have a beautiful Cy Twombly.”

The fair also included some notable jewelry exhibitors, including FD Gallery, Hemmerle, and Anna Hu, exhibiting at TEFAF for the first time.

“I used to have a boutique at the Plaza Hotel, so coming to this fair is like coming home again,” said Hu. “People are responding to my serpents and my special butterflies. We are using painted titanium with a new technique that we have invented, and people are reacting very positively.”

A varied and exciting art fair, TEFAF will run through May 13th.