ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Armory Show Presents Sector Grows 20% as Emerging Galleries Confront Fair Costs

festival-fair · 2026-04-27

In 2026, the Presents section of The Armory Show grew to include 54 exhibitors, up from 45 in 2025, marking a 20% rise and featuring 18 new galleries. Director Kyla McMillan emphasized that the section's affordable pricing fosters participation from emerging artists. Dealers described their involvement as a financial risk, prompting negotiations over fees and shared booth spaces. Rajiv Menon launched his Los Angeles gallery alongside painter Raghav Babbar, whose works sold rapidly following the VIP preview on 24 September. The shared stand of New York's Management and Droste Galladé sold half of Willehad Eilers's paintings priced at $18,500. Superposition featured Zoë Pulley, whose piece was acquired by the Bronx Museum for $14,000. The fair continues until 27 September at the Javits Center, New York.

Key facts

  • The Armory Show's Presents section grew 20% in 2026, from 45 to 54 exhibitors
  • 18 of the 54 Presents exhibitors are participating for the first time
  • Presents is limited to galleries founded within the last 12 years and favors solo or dual-artist presentations
  • Rajiv Menon Contemporary sold all but its works on paper within hours of the 24 September VIP preview
  • Management and Droste Galladé shared a stand, partly subsidized by the German government, showing Willehad Eilers at $18,500 per painting
  • Zoë Pulley won the inaugural Bronx Museum Acquisition Prize; the museum purchased Elegance No. 1 (2026) for $14,000
  • Michael Rosenfeld Gallery sold a Joan Mitchell painting for over $2m, the top reported VIP preview sale
  • UBS and Art Basel's Art Market Report found fair sales rose 4% year-on-year to 35% of gross revenue, the highest since 2022
  • The fair runs until 27 September at the Javits Center, New York

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • The Armory Show
  • Martha's
  • Wolfgang Gallery
  • Rajiv Menon Contemporary
  • Management
  • Droste Galladé
  • Superposition
  • Bronx Museum
  • Margot Samel
  • Lobster Club
  • Hannah Traore Gallery
  • Michael Rosenfeld Gallery
  • Spy Projects
  • Pietro Alexander Gallery
  • UBS
  • Art Basel
  • Javits Center
  • Sean Kelly Gallery
  • David Zwirner
  • Almine Rech
  • Galerie Templon
  • Larkin Erdmann
  • RGR Gallery
  • Galleria Minini
  • Mazzoleni
  • P420
  • Alfonso Artiaco
  • Lorcan O'Neill
  • Peres Projects
  • Eduardo Secci
  • Marc Straus
  • Hammer Museum
  • Quadriennale di Roma
  • Palais de Tokyo
  • Artribune
  • Sean Kelly
  • Perrotin
  • Nara Roesler
  • Norr Cohan
  • James Cohan
  • Galerie Magazine

Locations

  • New York
  • United States
  • Austin
  • Atlanta
  • Los Angeles
  • India
  • North India
  • Philadelphia
  • Tribeca
  • Chelsea
  • Brooklyn
  • Newark
  • France
  • Germany
  • Javits Center
  • Zurich
  • Switzerland
  • Mexico City
  • Mexico
  • Bologna
  • Italy
  • Rome
  • Milan
  • Berlin
  • Seoul
  • South Korea
  • Naples
  • Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
  • Manhattan
  • Haiti
  • South Florida
  • Brazil

Sources

Related stories