Esther fair concludes three-year run at Estonian House
The third edition of the Esther art fair took place at Estonian House in New York, wrapping up on May 16. Established by Estonian gallerists Olga Temnikova and Margot Samel, the event hosted 22 galleries and three special projects within the historic venue. Significant sales included complete sellouts by Adams and Ollman and Management, along with Bank Gallery’s sales of works by Alice Gong Xiaowen and Florian Meisenberg. Featured projects encompassed an installation by Darja Popolitova and Madlen Hirtentreu, as well as Kogo Gallery's iced cookies by Elīna Vītola priced at $4,500 each. Temnikova & Kasela displayed AI-inspired sculptures by Katja Novitskova. Samel highlighted a café bar stool plaque as evidence of the fair's conclusion, while Temnikova raised concerns regarding the US market and threats from Russia.
Key facts
- Esther fair ran until May 16 at Estonian House, New York
- Founded by Olga Temnikova and Margot Samel
- Third and final iteration in current form
- 22 galleries and 3 bespoke projects participated
- Adams and Ollman and Management sold out their presentations
- Bank Gallery sold works by Alice Gong Xiaowen and Florian Meisenberg
- Kogo Gallery offered cookies by Elīna Vītola at $4,500 each
- Temnikova & Kasela showed AI-inspired works by Katja Novitskova and Thea Gvetadze
- Laurel Gitlen showed works by Jill Goldstein and Max Guy
- Adams and Ollman showed paintings by Bethann Parker ($2,000–$9,000)
- Longtermhandstand featured Kata Tranker
- Thomas Erben presented Mike Cloud's works ($18,000), coinciding with Cloud's solo at Hammer Museum
- Péter Bencze noted gallerists cooperate and share clients at Esther
- Samel installed a commemorative plaque; Temnikova hinted at future plans but expressed concerns
Entities
Artists
- Darja Popolitova
- Madlen Hirtentreu
- Elīna Vītola
- Katja Novitskova
- Thea Gvetadze
- Jill Goldstein
- Max Guy
- Bethann Parker
- Kata Tranker
- Mike Cloud
- Alice Gong Xiaowen
- Florian Meisenberg
- Willehad Eilers
Institutions
- Esther
- Estonian House
- Kogo Gallery
- Pangée
- Temnikova & Kasela
- Laurel Gitlen
- Adams and Ollman
- Longtermhandstand
- Thomas Erben
- Hammer Museum
- Management
- Bank Gallery
Locations
- New York
- United States
- East 34th Street
- Estonian House
- Tartu
- Estonia
- Montréal
- Canada
- Tallinn
- Brooklyn
- Portland
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Budapest
- Hungary
- Los Angeles
- Shanghai
- China
- Georgia
- Latvia
- Russia