Art Chicago

Moa, Egon Schiele

There may be five shows going on at ARTropolis, but all eyes are on Art Chicago—and for good reason: There would be no ARTropolis if Art Chicago hadn’t taken a profound nosedive last year. Here’s a recap: the fest’s gallerists were left homeless after labor issues led to a work stoppage on that fair’s Grant Park tents. The Merchandise Mart stepped in at the eleventh hour with space, and this year, Mart officials concocted the extravaganza that is ARTropolis. Art dealers will spread out over 200,000 square feet, and the Mart’s fair also will feature a café, bookstore and contemporary-photography exhibition.

Robert Fishko, director of New York’s Forum Gallery, has been coming to Art Chicago for years and was the gallerists’ point person last year. He led the selection committee and considered about 280 gallery applications before selecting the final 132. Fishko says the committee aimed for an interdisciplinary show, striking a balance between the modern and contemporary art periods, while also featuring photography, conservative and cutting-edge work, with representation from younger galleries and more established ones.

“It’s difficult to achieve a mix that concentrates on quality and that spans every boundary in the contemporary-art world, but I think this list, at least on paper, comes as close to doing it as any I have ever seen,” Fishko says.

Local gallery owner Kavi Gupta hasn’t bothered with fairs here for the past few years, finding those in New York, Miami and Basel, Switzerland, to be more lucrative. This year, however, he joined Art Chicago. Why? Gupta says he saw the Mart was serious about making a great fair. And since some of his dealer friends were coming to town to participate, he figured he would, too. In particular, he’s looking forward to showing young Chicago artists like Melanie Schiff and Claire Sherman.

It’s also because he believes in Chicago. Art Chicago’s decline frustrated the entire art community, but this is home. “I am here to stay,” Gupta says.

Hot tip When it comes to learning how to collect, there are no shortcuts. “The way you buy art is you learn about it; it’s a combination of gut emotional response with that new knowledge,” says Jane Kallir of New York’s Galerie St. Etienne. A good place to start learning, and buying, is the fair’s bookstore, which has beautiful, informative art books for under $100.

VIP sneak peek, Thu 26, 5–6pm, bestbuddies.org, $150; Opening night preview, Thu 26, 6–9pm, bestbuddies.org, $100; Fri, Sat 11am–7pm; Sun, Mon 11am–6pm