Tefaf New York returns to the Park Avenue Armory from 15 to 19 May, bringing together 88 exhibitors from 14 countries. The fair, which launched in 2016 as a two-part event and consolidated into a single annual edition in 2022, spans Greco-Roman antiquities, jewellery, 20th-century design, and contemporary art. This year’s edition includes nine new exhibitors such as David Lévy, Larkin Erdmann, Piano Nobile, Macklowe Gallery, and ML Fine Art, and sees the return of John Berggruen after a three-year absence. Fair leadership, including director Leanne Jagtiani and head of fairs Will Korner, emphasize the fair’s distinctive focus on Modern art, which they say differentiates it from other spring fairs in New York that are more heavily weighted toward contemporary work.
Tefaf New York’s continued relevance matters because it occupies a unique niche in the crowded New York spring fair calendar, balancing 20th-century and 21st-century art when competitors like Art Basel and Frieze lean heavily toward the contemporary. The fair’s ability to adapt to changing market conditions while maintaining its core identity—rooted in the 1988 merger of two Dutch fairs—has helped it endure as a key event for dealers and collectors. The emphasis on Modern works reflects both the collecting ecology of New York and a broader market resurgence, driven by renewed interest in early Modernists and Abstract Expressionists. This positioning ensures Tefaf New York remains a vital platform for cross-period dialogue in the global art market.