Master Drawings New York (MDNY) marks its 20th edition this month, founded in 2006 by London dealers Crispian Riley-Smith and Margot Gordon and acquired in 2023 by dealer Christopher Bishop. The fair focuses on works on paper from the 15th century to today, also including painting, sculpture, and photography. This year features 36 dealers across two dozen Upper East Side gallery spaces, with ten new exhibitors from Europe, making it the most geographically diverse edition yet. Programming includes a highlights catalogue of 20 important works sold during previous editions that ended up in major collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Getty.
The anniversary underscores how drawings and works on paper have gained broader appreciation among mainstream collectors, moving beyond a niche category. The fair’s robust curator attendance and reliance on museum acquisitions highlight its role in the historic drawings market, while the influx of European dealers reflects the growing importance of the New York market amid Brexit and tax policy shifts in Europe. MDNY’s expansion signals the sustained vitality of the drawings collecting field.