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By Julia Bikbulatova
On a Sensory Level:
Palm Beach Modern+Contemporary Art Fair
BY JULIA BIKBULATOVA
Palm Beach Modern+Contemporary Art Fair (Mar 20–23): 76 galleries, accessible prices ($500–$360K), and focus on emerging artists. Discover South Florida’s spring art highlight.
The art fair in Palm Beach, Florida, has a distinctive atmosphere. Before attending, you skim through the press release to see what to expect: big names of 20th-century art — Andy Warhol, Yayoi Kusama, Keith Haring, David Hockney — appear among the participants, and it feels like it might just be another iteration of the Context Art Miami format, under whose umbrella this fair is also held. But the moment you step into the Palm Beach County Convention Center, it becomes clear — this fair has its own unique character and tone.
In Palm Beach, art felt less like an investment asset. Unlike major art fairs such as Art Basel Miami Beach or Context Miami, where galleries rush to emphasize provenance and museum exhibitions, here things appeared far more relaxed and informal. That’s understandable: the scale of the Miami fairs attracts collectors from around the globe and fosters intense competition among participants. In contrast, despite featuring 76 galleries from 18 countries — ranging from Spain and the UK to Canada and Colombia — the Palm Beach fair was clearly aimed at a local audience. This was also reflected in the pricing strategy: the range was noticeably more accessible — from $500 for works by Thomas Kelly from his WeWork series to $360,000 for a painting by Bermano titled See The Beauty.
In Palm Beach, art felt less like an investment asset. Unlike major art fairs such as Art Basel Miami Beach or Context Miami, where galleries rush to emphasize provenance and museum exhibitions, here things appeared far more relaxed and informal. That’s understandable: the scale of the Miami fairs attracts collectors from around the globe and fosters intense competition among participants. In contrast, despite featuring 76 galleries from 18 countries — ranging from Spain and the UK to Canada and Colombia — the Palm Beach fair was clearly aimed at a local audience. This was also reflected in the pricing strategy: the range was noticeably more accessible — from $500 for works by Thomas Kelly from his WeWork series to $360,000 for a painting by Bermano titled See The Beauty.
- Chris River. FRAGILE LIFE #2, 2024. Credit: Pontone Gallery
- Bermano. See The Beauty, 2024. Cedit: Bermano Gallery
- Thomas Kelly, WeWork, 2024. Credit: Walter Wickiser Gallery
Nick Korniloff, the fair's director who has been organizing art events in Palm Beach County since 2001, notes that collectors are no longer as eager to buy only the big names as they once were.
“We’re seeing the next wave of interest shift toward artists who are either emerging or mid-career. It’s a fresh trend that’s becoming increasingly visible,” he says.
According to Korniloff, this shift is driven in part by the growing number of young collectors who are increasingly moving away from antiques and famous names in favor of relevant contemporary art.
“We’re seeing the next wave of interest shift toward artists who are either emerging or mid-career. It’s a fresh trend that’s becoming increasingly visible,” he says.
According to Korniloff, this shift is driven in part by the growing number of young collectors who are increasingly moving away from antiques and famous names in favor of relevant contemporary art.
- General view. Credit: Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary art fair
- General view. Credit: Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary art fair
- General view. Credit: Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary art fair
This trend is also supported by art market analysts. According to the latest Art Basel/UBS report, global sales of art and antiques fell by 12% in 2024 — the second consecutive year of decline. However, despite the drop in high-end segments, activity in the more affordable category — works priced under $50,000 — rose by 3%.
Palm Beach Modern+Contemporary is the most prominent and prestigious spring art event in South Florida’s cultural calendar. Held in March, at the height of the season, it attracts the attention of both local collectors and art dealers. Many galleries choose Palm Beach over Miami, seeking to build solid relationships with the local clientele.
With a focus on works by emerging and mid-career artists, including photographers, the fair clearly sets a specific tone: Palm Beach Art Fair is primarily oriented toward interior-focused acquisitions. The accessible price range makes art buying both attractive and versatile, while emerging and mid-career artists — those on the verge of a breakthrough — are exactly the kind of talents that could become the next big names. That’s why the fair continues to draw strong interest from the local audience year after year.
Palm Beach Modern+Contemporary is the most prominent and prestigious spring art event in South Florida’s cultural calendar. Held in March, at the height of the season, it attracts the attention of both local collectors and art dealers. Many galleries choose Palm Beach over Miami, seeking to build solid relationships with the local clientele.
With a focus on works by emerging and mid-career artists, including photographers, the fair clearly sets a specific tone: Palm Beach Art Fair is primarily oriented toward interior-focused acquisitions. The accessible price range makes art buying both attractive and versatile, while emerging and mid-career artists — those on the verge of a breakthrough — are exactly the kind of talents that could become the next big names. That’s why the fair continues to draw strong interest from the local audience year after year.