Armory Show 2025 Emphasized Cultural Vitality in U.S. and Global Art Pieces

Each year, New York City presents some of the globe’s most esteemed art fairs, including Frieze, the AIPAD Photography Show, and, most recently, the Armory Show. Taking place from September 5 to 7, 2025, at the Javits Center, this year’s edition of the fair brought together over 200 galleries from around the world.

“[The Armory Show] has served as a cornerstone for the New York art scene for many years, and the fair has expanded just as New York has evolved into the heart of the global art market,” fair director Kyla McMillan remarked in a recent interview. “It holds immense significance for countless people.”

Indeed, the substantial attendance at the Armory Show illustrates its importance. Within just three days, around 50,000 visitors converged at the Javits Center, encountering prestigious galleries like Yancey Richardson, Sean Kelly, and White Cube, among many others. Several international institutions were also present, representing nations such as Taiwan, Japan, France, Nigeria, and Sweden.

“For U.S. exhibitors, participating in the Armory Show conveys the narrative of the American art market,” McMillan noted. “And for those outside the U.S., the Armory Show serves as the platform to connect with American audiences.”

Perhaps no section encapsulated that sentiment better than the fair’s “Focus” area, which showcased works from the American South. In this space, Austin-based artist RF Alvarez displayed cowboy paintings inspired by Paul Cadmus; Baldwin Lee revealed photographs depicting Black communities across the South; and Monica Kim Garza filled an entire booth with a triptych representing a dinner party, illustrating the fusion of her Mexican-Korean heritage with Southern culinary traditions.

The fair’s “Platform” section provided an equally extensive overview of contemporary art throughout the U.S. Curated for the first time by the nonprofit Souls Grown Deep, “Platform” featured works by Black artists influenced by their experiences in the American South. A notable highlight was an installation from Gee’s Bend, Alabama, celebrating the annual tradition of the “airing of the quilts,” where quilts are hung outside to bask in the sunlight and be admired by community members and passersby.

“We host a fair during an exhilarating cultural moment in New York, alongside the US Open, New York Fashion Week, and, more recently, Collectible Design,” McMillan stated. “We aim to construct bridges and attract new audiences to the fair to interact with our exhibitors.”

To explore more highlights from this year’s fair, visit the Armory Show website.

This year’s edition of the Armory Show honored not only New York’s contemporary art landscape but that of the entire United States.

Drawing in approximately 50,000 visitors, the art fair featured over 200 galleries from the U.S. and countries like Peru, Japan, and France.

Dedicated sections at the Armory Show spotlighted artwork from the American South, celebrating often underappreciated visual traditions and cultures.