Open Invitational, a micro-fair dedicated to artists with developmental disabilities working in supported studios, is debuting in Basel this week. The fair, co-founded by David Fierman, features six supported studios from the U.S. and Switzerland exhibiting works by artists like Cynthia Stickler and Michael Angelo Mangino, with prices ranging from around $500 to over $1,000. The event aims to integrate these artists into the mainstream art world during the prestigious Art Basel week.
This edition matters because it highlights a growing movement to recognize artists from supported studios, who have long been excluded from the professional art world. Recent successes—such as Marlon Mullen’s solo show at MoMA, SF MoMA’s Creative Growth survey, and Nnena Kalu’s Turner Prize win—signal a turning tide. Open Invitational provides a crucial platform for these artists to gain visibility and connect with influential figures, challenging traditional definitions of who qualifies as an artist.