New York Spring 2025: Fair Director’s Picks

Affordable Art Fair NYC Fair Director, Erin Schuppert, shares some of her top picks ahead of the upcoming Spring edition. Read on below to learn more about the selected artworks that moved her this Spring and enjoy some stunning room mockups thanks to our art marketing partner, ArtPlacer.

ARTWORKS SPOTLIGHT

I’m really leaning into my big city vibe lately. These five works match that energy – the fun, the fashion, the feverish undercurrent that could take you anywhere.

The One in Berlin | Ma Ani

I love the movement and perspective in this painting by Quebec-based artist Ma Ani. It perfectly balances the powerfully feminine subject with the harsh, industrial streets of Berlin.

“My process is the same for all canvases. I start by reading list books. I read lots, lots, lots of list books.”

– Ma Ani

Lost Dog | Mark Ward

British artist Mark Ward creates stage sets with paper, clay, or other craft materials before painting the scenes in acrylic. His subjects are most often animals, but presented in this way, they remind me of theater or even New York City’s best window displays.  

Boom | Katharine Morling

Katherine Morling describes her porcelain sculptures as “3D drawings” that are “open for interpretation”. To me, her works feel as if they have come out of an uncanny cartoon version of our world, familiar but not exact, carefully crafted but not delicate.  

Surreal Perch | Jessica Ziegler

Local artist Jessica Ziegler paints the often-overlooked details of our cityscape. The unique perspective of this work makes me appreciate what I otherwise might miss or consider mundane in our constructed environment.  

“I seek out the details and ‘small moments’ when the light and shadow reveal unexpected beauty in ordinary objects.“

Veranda | Vince Garcia

I love the visceral quality of this work by Spanish artist Vince Garcia. I get the feeling that the subject is at the end of an intense night out in the city and is contemplating her next move.  

FAVORITES FROM THE FELLOWS

All three of our Fellows this edition are women-owned galleries based here in New York City! Each are presenting figurative painters with a strong sense of style and identity. These artists challenge us to reconsider traditional art historical narratives, themes, and compositions.   

Golden Hour | Alanis Forde

Barbadian artist Alanis Forde paints surrealist, introspective portraits that challenge the relationship between the subject and viewer. She explores what it means for her subject to live in the paradise to which the viewer seeks to escape.   

The Long Wait | Juliette Vaissiere

Juliette Vaissiere references the Baroque and Rococo periods of art history to explore the ways people strive to create “ideal” environments through modern-day consumerism. She employs tromp l’oeil techniques to confront our glossy digital age.  

Can We Reschedule | Mayowa Nwadike

In his work, self-taught Nigerian artist Mayowa Nwadike explores gender roles, the complexities of toxic masculinity, and the challenges immigrants face. His paintings take inspiration from African stories and symbolism.  

WONDERS UNDER $1000

Each edition, we feature some of the most accessibly priced works in a curated installation called Wonders Under $1000. This is one of my favorite spots in the fair, but you can find affordable artworks in every stand! Look for the pink stickers around the fair that call out works priced under $1000, and to give you a sneak peak of the treasures you might find, I’ve selected a few of my favorite affordable artworks here.  

Independence | Erica Stearly

Oysters | Dominique Warren

Thanks so much to Erin for sharing her highlights! All of these artworks and many more will be available to see and purchase at Affordable Art Fair NYC Spring, March 19 – 23.

Book your tickets and take a look at our exhibiting galleries to start planning your visit!