Aspen High: Dueling Art Fairs, The ArtCrush Gala, Exclusive Dior events and Record Sales
Home to a goldmine of high society, Aspen is a natural paradise for luxury and a privileged destination for the most prestigious collectors.
Perched at 8,000 feet and known for its steep ski slopes, the city of Aspen is no place for beginners. Home to a goldmine of high society, it is a natural paradise for luxury and a privileged destination for the most prestigious collectors. Since the late ‘70s, Aspen has supported artist-run organizations like the workshop-driven Anderson Ranch and has hosted its first commercial art fair since 2010. Every year, from the end of July through the first week of August, Aspen Art Week offers an excellent opportunity to meet buyers from the region in a relaxed atmosphere. “It’s wonderful to view works in beautiful environments, with less pressure around”, admits former Deputy Director of The Armory Show Adriana Farietta as we crossed paths.
Kicking off Aspen Art Week, the Aspen Art Museum hosted a chic rooftop party to celebrate its 45th anniversary. Guests, sipping champagne amidst the stunning mountain views and within the striking architecture designed by award-winning architect Shigeru Ban, previewed a fine selection of works for the museum’s upcoming annual auction, the ArtCrush Gala, led by Christie's.
Featured donations by artists such as Jacqueline Humphries, Robert Nava, and Kennedy Yanko from renowned New York blue-chip galleries including Pace, Lehmann Maupin, and Timothy Taylor, this A-list event raises funds for the museum's exceptional educational and artistic programs. This year, they broke the record with $4.5 million in earnings.
The week’s museum-exclusive events offered morning hikes with German artist Lena Henke, whose sculpture graces the museum’s roof, and a musical performance by darling artist Ryan Trecartin, accompanied by the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble. This highlight concert was staged at a peak altitude of 11,000 feet; attendees were invited to ride the Aspen Mountain Silver Queen Gondola—the world’s longest single-stage gondola—to enjoy breathtaking views of the valley and listen to experimental jazz. Surprisingly, the ensemble included a baby grand piano, not just string instruments. World-class art professionals and collectors gathered, sitting on the grass and inflatable sofas in a relaxed, grassroots fashion while watching the sunset, making for a truly refreshing and unforgettable experience.
Aspen Museum Director Nicola Lees shared a sentiment of fulfillment post-artweek over an email: “I am energized by the enthusiastic response to this year’s special anniversary edition of Aspen Art Week. Last year, we went into the belly of the mountain, and this year we ascended to its apex with an unprecedented and new commission led by Ryan Trecartin. Our new, expanded group of Gala Co-Chairs brought palpable energy to our ArtCrush auction, and I am thankful to everyone who contributed to the phenomenal result.”
At the bottom of the Gondola, The Little Nell, the only five-star luxury hotel in Aspen, presented a talk with two premier South African-based artists, Zanele Muholi and Billie Zangewa in partnership with the Anderson Ranch. Art patrons and celebrity guests were welcomed at the hotel’s Dior Riviera Gardens cocktail party and private lunches, created exclusively by the French Maison Dior. These experiences took part in the Dior Spa residency program available at the hotel until the end of September.
Further in the village, two art fairs—Intersect Art Fair and Aspen Art Fair—began their four-day events. Unlike leading world art fairs such as Frieze and The Armory Show, which operate on a real estate business model, these two fairs embraced a more intimate, family business approach. In the midst of dizzying global art fairs activations, many gallery owners and art professionals have started to seek out more human-sized settings. "Galleries are typically trying to reduce their fair schedules and invest in more regional environments," I overheard Laura Smith Sweeney, founder of LSS Art Advisory tell a visitor at her booth at Aspen Art Fair.
The von Gal brothers - Tim and Dirk - co-founders of Intersect Art Fair presented about 30 exhibitors from international backgrounds at the Aspen Ice Garden, since their takeover of the original fair in 2020. With counterparts being in Palm Springs and Chicago, Intersect Aspen attracts fine art and design-focused galleries.
Large installations and sculptures showcased in expensive booths, featuring artworks by Robert Montgomery at Madison Gallery, and Anthony James’ renowned Portal installations at Melissa Morgan Fine Art. Todd Merrill Studio exhibited elegant 20th-century furniture and collectible designs. Corridor Contemporary, based in Tel-Aviv, presented paintings by Alex Katz and Yigal Ozeri. Interact, included panels focused on social, design and environmental consciousness as part of its program.
In terms of sales, both fine art and design galleries reached significant milestones, with BDDW reporting a complete sellout of their Aspen inventory. “The fourteenth edition of Aspen's original art fair, was by far the most successful and pleasant we have ever produced in Aspen.” Tim von Gal, CEO, Intersect Art and Design stated over email.
Building upon this community, Rebecca Hoffman, daughter of well-established New York gallerist Nancy Hoffman, and Bob Chase, a veteran art dealer and Aspen-based Hexton gallery owner, launched an original fair format at the historic location of the Hotel Jerome. The Aspen Art Fair is a bespoke, modern boutique fair experience offering dynamic programming, including private home collection tours and early morning cold plunges in the river. For Rebecca Hoffman, Aspen Art Fair co-founder, “it’s about integrating the natural beauty of Aspen and being infused in its history.”
The Hotel Jerome has been a social hub of Aspen since 1889 and is today a trending luxury auberge resort welcoming guests with staff in matching cowboy attire. New York blue-chip galleries such as Perrotin, Gmurzynska and Ryan Lee presented their star artists in the hotel’s carpeted ballroom. Taschen, Southern Guild and Timothy Yarger displayed well-curated and elegant booths.
Galerie Maximilian, the oldest gallery in Aspen since 1997, offered mixed media works on paper by prominent modern and contemporary artists. The hotel’s first-floor rooms were staged with originality by K Contemporary and others, and activated by artist residencies, including text-based artist Evan Hecox who recreated his studio environment bringing his personal records and books. Collaborative and spirited, the fair brings partnership with other vibrant artists communities, such as the Denver-based workspace and private collection Pardon.
Concluding the week, as I chatted while I was waiting at the tiny Aspen airport, Mary Ryan, co-founder of Ryan Lee Gallery, expressed her satisfaction. “Sales were really good, and we met great interest from old, new collectors and museums.”
In the whirlwind of my altitude sickness – which hit me like a storm – I wondered what was so great about Aspen all year round. When I asked Bob Chase, owner of Hexton gallery, why he decided to settle in Aspen, he smiled and said: “It’s so nice to meet collectors on hiking paths. To me, Aspen is the unicorn of the artworld.”
