TEFAF New York Fall 2017: A Disappointing Edition

The second edition of TEFAF New York, held from October 27 to 29, 2017 at the Park Avenue Armory, failed to match the quality of its debut. While the 2016 edition featured masterpieces by Diego Velázquez, Gustave Courbet, Auguste Rodin, Pablo Picasso, and Fernand Léger, along with high-end jewelry and historical objects from Ancient Egypt to Rome, the 2017 edition saw a decline. The best booths included Richard Greene of London, presenting the only Claude Monet at the fair alongside Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Eugène Boudin, Pierre Bonnard, and a Picasso; Galerie Sanct Lucas of Vienna, focusing on Egon Schiele watercolors; and Axel Vervoordt, with tapestries and Egyptian antiquities. Robilant + Voena disappointed with a view of Venice by Virgilio Guidi and a questionable Giorgio Morandi oil. The fair featured much antiquities, minor artists, kitsch objects, and overpriced works, such as a Degas sculpture in an edition of 26 sold for $1,200,000. The opening hours were extended to 9 PM, unlike the previous year's 6 PM close for an exclusive gala.