The thirteenth edition of Expo Chicago opened its VIP preview at Navy Pier with a streamlined floor plan and a focus on emerging talent. Despite a generally slow global art market, exhibitors reported strong early sales, including Nashville-based artist Annie Brito Hodgin’s debut outside her home state and Wenhui Hao’s near-sell-out presentation with Half Gallery. The fair’s decision to reduce the number of exhibitors from 170 to 130 was widely praised by dealers for improving the quality of presentations and making the event more navigable for collectors.
This year's fair highlights the resilience of regional art hubs and the importance of institutional support for emerging artists. Notable acquisitions, such as the Bennett Collection's purchase of Hodgin’s work for the Muskegon Museum of Art, underscore the fair's role in placing works in public and private collections. With a high concentration of art advisors and museum curators in attendance, the event serves as a critical barometer for the mid-market sector and the continued appeal of figurative and surrealist painting.