Independent 2026 Highlights Five Artists at New Pier 36 Venue

Independent 2026 opened at Pier 36 on the Lower East Side, marking the fair's new home. The curated fair features a mix of established and emerging artists, with solo presentations by Aaronel deRoy Gruber (april april and Romance, Pittsburgh), Kyojun Lee (PIBI Gallery), Kentaro Okumura (Vardaxoglou), Dianna Settles (MARCH), and Gretchen Bender (Sprüth Magers). The fair's design by D_P_S (Diogo Passarinho Studio) emphasizes discovery, with many galleries showing artists new to New York. Aaronel deRoy Gruber (1918–2011) is presented with archival materials and geometric sculptures, including jewelry referencing Surrealist works. Kyojun Lee, a key figure in Korean Geometric Abstract Painting, debuts at Independent with works on paper, photographs, paintings, and prints. Kentaro Okumura, a recent Camberwell College of Arts graduate, makes his New York debut with paintings exploring travel and place. Dianna Settles depicts rural scenes of foraging and farming, drawing from Western traditions and her father's native Vietnam. Gretchen Bender's "TV Text & Image" series from the late 1980s critiques media manipulation, featuring phrases like "MILITARY RESEARCH" and "WHERE TRUTH LIES."