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Clio Art Fair is delighted to share the opening of its 17th edition and 10th year anniversary

September 5 - 8, 2024

@ 456 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012 

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Clio Art Fair is a contemporary art fair held biannually that focuses on showcasing independent artists without exclusive gallery representation in NYC.

Clio Art Fair, which takes its name from the Greek Muse of History, was launched in 2014 by Alessandro Berni to offer a fresh and alternative perspective on the established art fair model and to challenge the traditional art market’s methodologies. Clio is an alternative to larger, historical art fairs which are often dominated by blue chip galleries and high-priced artworks.

Clio Art Fair aims to create an intimate and approachable environment for both artists and collectors. Each independent artist is given their own exhibition space and the possibility to interact directly, without filters, with the collectors and art lovers that visit the space. The fair features a diverse range of contemporary art, including painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, and installations. It also offers a performance program. Around 180 artworks by 30 independent artists will be on show.

 

The fair is known for its democratic and inclusive approach to art and its emphasis on collaborating with artists from a wide range of backgrounds and styles. We also pride ourselves on being very attentive to the architecture of our venues, thus not creating booths, but trying to respect as much as possible the spaces that host us. Finally, one of the most distinctive features of our fair is that we are born and we proudly still are a small and intimate fair, in opposition to the infinite isles of blue-ship fairs. Nevertheless, Clio Art Fair was born with a big challenge: empower independent artists and give them a spotlight in the NYC Art Week. We firmly stand by what the Italo-French Art Historian Philippe Daverio once said: "People walk into museums and look at 400 paintings in one hour and a half. Then they head over to grab a Coke once they head out, with their swollen feet, trying to forget the whole experience. [...] Similarly to libraries, Museums hold hundreds of works, but they are not intended to be looked at all together, just as libraries hold thousands of books, but who walks in is not meant to read them all. [...] The artist who has painted a work of art might have taken months or even years to finish: what gives us the right to look at it for no more than 5 seconds?".
 

Clio Art Fair, originally located on the fifth floor of the Wolf Building in Chelsea, has later graduated to a street-level space in 2018. Coming to you this year, for the first time, in a new location, in the heart of NYC at 456 W Broadway, in the exclusive Soho neighbourhood.

Clio Art Fair has gained a reputation for being a supportive and welcoming environment for emerging artists, and has been praised for its inclusivity and diversity. It has attracted a growing audience of art collectors, curators, and enthusiasts who are looking for a fresh and outside of the box perspective on the contemporary art world. Overall, Clio Art Fair is a must-see event for anyone interested in art. Whether you're a seasoned collector or a first-time visitor, the fair offers a welcoming and engaging experience that you won’t want to miss!

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For this edition, we are delighted to announce our partnership with A Free Bird, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting children affected by cancer. Through the therapeutic power of art, A Free Bird helps these children discover their inner artists as they bravely fight their disease. In light of this partnership, we are thrilled to host a Meet the Artist / Live Painting Session with four young artists from A Free Bird. This special event will take place at our venue on September 5th, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. During this time, the children will have the opportunity to paint while meeting and interacting with Clio Art Fair artists ahead of the official opening.​

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Clio Art Fair, September 5-8, 2024 presents a special section titled 

 

Sugar Wrapped: A Journey Into #Transhumanism

An aesthetic contemplation of the evolving interplay

between human identity, technology, and creativity

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In this performance project, "Sugar Wrapped," we delve into the multifaceted world of transhumanism through a compelling blend of artworks and performances. The exhibition explores how technology is reshaping our understanding of the human condition, pushing the boundaries of identity, perception, and existence.

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By juxtaposing traditional artistic mediums with cutting-edge technological expressions, the project invites viewers to reflect on the ethical, philosophical, and emotional implications of a future where the lines between human and machine are increasingly blurred.

 

Join us on this journey as we navigate the intricate layers of transhumanism, wrapped in the sweet and complex metaphor of sugar, symbolizing both allure and the potential consequences of our technological advancements.

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Performance program and schedule:

Kledia Spiro | Press and Sniff | Thursday, September 5th, 7:00 pm

Holly Crawford | Kiss, Kiss, Technically Sweet (Don’t Worry) | Thursday, September 5th, 7:30 pm

Viruscela | Locks | Thursday, September 5th, 8:00 pm

Nicole Goodwin | Sweet n' Low: Tales from the Candy Lady | Thursday, September 5th, 8:30 pm​​​​​

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On Press and Sniff, in Kledia Spiro's words:

«I will present Press and Sniff featuring ten interactive press-and-sniff boxes arranged like a factory. Each box has a big red button. When pressed, it activates a fan that diffuses a unique aroma. Participants can line up to experience different smells, or I can bring the boxes directly to them for more personal interactions.

I will also display 3.5" x 5.5” laser-etched acrylic drawings of bar path analyses from previous performances. These etchings show the movements of participants learning Olympic lifts, like the snatch and clean and jerk. I teach these lifts using a PVC pipe to demonstrate proper form and form as inspired by the smells. As each participant lifts, I will create a visual representation of their movements in real-time.»

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On Kiss, Kiss, Technically Sweet (Don't Worry), in Holly Crawford's words:

«My performance is a text performance around the history of technology from stone tools, fire and pots, the wheel, roads, telegraph, electricity, rockets, A-bomb, computer, internet and AI.  It can be sweet. Time ticking is in the background.
“When you see something that is technically sweet, you go ahead and do it and you argue about what to do about it only after you have had technical success.”
I'll hand out chocolate kisses with fragmented text stickers & souvenirs cards with fragmented text from “Atomic Energy for Military Purposes,” official report 1945 (now declassified).»

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On Locks, in Viruscella's words:

«I'll explore transhumanism via a morbid homage to JACKIE EXTREME. In this brief performance, I'll combine gender bending, lipsynch, amateur puppetry and prop design in an effort to showcase what I believe to be an underrepresented alternative style of drag artistry.»

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On Sweet n' Low: Tales from the Candy Lady, In Nicole Goodwin's words:

«My performance will focus on the narratives of Black women's lives as told by a "blind, homeless oracle".»

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PROGRAM

 

VIP Opening Reception

Thursday, September 5th | 5 - 9 PM​

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General Admission

Friday, September 6th | 12 - 8 PM

​Saturday, September 7th | 12 - 8 PM​

Sunday, September 8th | 12 - 6 PM

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VISITOR INFO

456 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012

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ENTRY

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VIP Opening Night: $35.00

General Admission: Free Entrance

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For additional information, please reach us at art@clioartfair.com

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Clio Art Fair September 5-8, 2024 includes 35+ Independent Artists:​​​

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