Independent 20th Century, the art fair launched in 2022, is moving from the Battery Maritime Building to Marcel Breuer's former Whitney Museum building—now Sotheby's global headquarters—for its fifth edition, running September 24–27. The fair will be nearly twice the size of previous editions, featuring 56 exhibitors and over 130 artists, with roughly 80% of presentations dedicated to one or two artists. Highlights include Hauser & Wirth's presentation of Emma Kunz, Lévy Gorvy Dayan's presentation of Yves Klein, and Nahmad Contemporary's presentation of Lucio Fontana.
The move to the Breuer, a mid-century modernist icon that has housed the Whitney Museum, the Met Breuer, and the Frick Collection, marks a strategic expansion for Independent founder Elizabeth Dee, who sees it as a rebirth of the fair's concept. The partnership with Sotheby's positions the auction house's flagship as a cultural destination rather than just a sales venue. The fair's curatorial focus on overlooked 20th-century histories and rediscoveries aligns with the building's museum legacy, potentially setting a new standard for how art fairs blend exhibition and marketplace.