Arts / Galleries

Coast to Coast Buzz: Texas Contemporary Art Fair Set to Reach New Heights — Behind the Booths

BY // 10.01.15

We have a feeling about this one — the fifth edition of the Texas Contemporary Art Fair, organized by Art Market Productions. All signals point to this being the year that the Texas Contemporary really takes off, building a buzz capable of reaching both coasts, beginning the buildup that soon will equal that of the spring-time convergence farther north, the Dallas Art Fair.

What the Texas Contemporary always had going for it is a vibe that mirrors Houston: important artwork, sans attitude, with a dash of high jinx and some mayhem mixed in. (Remember the snapping gators several years back at the Glasstire booth, and the collectible art multiples/tchotchkes served up at the Rice Gallery stand?)

And everyone in the remote corners of the Houston art world knows that this evening, Thursday, October 1, marks the Fair’s Opening Night, including the big reveal of a new international vision, “The Other Mexico,” organized by Mexico-City/Texas-based indie curator Leslie Moody Castro.

We visited the Texas Contemporary, and went backstage and behind the curtain this week – braving the ramps of the George R. Brown Convention Center  to gaze upon this Fair in formation. You’ll love the new third-floor venue, Hall A3, which allows light and space to open up the art-viewing experience. David Graeve‘s jumbo blue-hued balloons serve as punctuation point and welcome signal at the Fair entrance.

Andrea Dezsö headlines at the Rice Gallery booth.
Andrea Dezsö headlines at the Rice Gallery booth.

During our visit yesterday, plenty caught our eye. And Houston dealers acquitted themselves quite nicely, including Art PalaceMoody GalleryBarbara Davis GalleryDavid Shelton Gallery,Cardoza Fine Art and Unix Gallery, among others. You’ll also want to visit the Mexico City denizens, Rice Gallery‘s silhouette-obsessed booth bearing the creations of Andrea Dezsö, and Other Criteria, which is stocked with Damien Hirst multiples and more. In the common area, don’t miss Jay Shinn‘s futuristic wall piece, all pigment and light rays, and nearby the MaRS-designed VIP Lounge, which also boasts a light experience devised by Erick Calderon. Tune in tomorrow for more from the #TxContemporary mise-en-scène.

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