The Armory Show's Evolution and Impact on New York's Art Scene

The Armory Show, a major contemporary art fair in New York City, has been a fixture since at least 2006, with events held on Piers 90 and 92 at 12th Avenue and 50th and 52nd Streets. In 2009, it opened amid a recession, with artcritical editor David Cohen noting the art world's response of expansion and nonchalance. The fair's 2006 edition drew over 47,000 attendees, including collectors and critics, and was financially successful though aesthetically debated. By 2010, it was part of Armory Week, with a Bleecker Street gallery hosting peers from Brooklyn and the Lower East Side. An after-party on West 53rd Street benefited The Museum of Modern Art and P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, attracting a young, buoyant crowd. Dealer Washburn commented positively on the fair's second year, while the ADAA's concurrent fair added to the high-end offerings, causing name confusion with The Armory Show. The mood was generally upbeat, with A-list crowds and art consumption in focus.