Serious sales, especially in the ceramic sector, combined with an upsurge in sophisticated collectors attending the show, made for the strongest SOFA NEW YORK fair ever. Mark Lyman, President of SOFA said, “The New York art collectors found SOFA this year. It seems the attendance was up. The show floor was full but not hectic.”

Joan Mirviss of Joan B. Mirviss, Ltd., New York, exhibiting for the second year in SOFA NEW YORK, said, “The show went very well. It felt to me like we had more sophisticated clientele this year. Sales were very good.” Mirviss was especially pleased with the sale of Wada Morihiro’s Large Vessel in Rectangular Form, 1999 stoneware with slip overglaze, one of a very few pieces created with a representational design of stylized roses by Japan’s foremost abstract, polychrome decorative surface clay artist. Mirviss said, “I wanted something really wonderful to bring to SOFA, and was thrilled when the artist offered this piece from his personal collection. Several important curators and ceramic artists said it was best piece in the show.”

Garth Clark of Garth Clark Gallery, New York, said, “The caliber of collectors attending SOFA NEW YORK are on a par with New York’s ADAA’s (Art Dealers Association of Americas) Art Show. The event feels quite the same, similar traffic on the floor. Even the crowds today (Saturday) are serious buyers. I was also impressed by the number of collectors who had traveled from many parts of the country to attend the show. And every piece we sold, we sold to new clients whom we would not have sold to in the gallery.”

Garth Clark Gallery, New York enjoyed key sales including a major sculpture by Carlo Zauli, #39 Column, part of is a stunning Special Exhibit at SOFA NEW YORK, Carlo Zauli (1926-2002) and Contemporary European Ceramics: A Survey, organized by Garth Clark and presented in conjunction with the Museo Carlo Zauli, Faenza, Italy. Also selling as part of the Special Exhibit was The St. Hubert Galleries, 2002 by Paul Day.

Additional sales at the Garth Clark Gallery booth included Akio Takamori, Seduction, circa 1987; and Isamu Noguchi, Omen, 1952, as well as six pieces by Richard Notkin, featured artist in the Garth Clark Gallery booth, whose socially and politically activist pieces reference the centuries old Yixing teapot genre. Click here to view Richard Notkin speaking about his work. (quicktime plugin required)

On Saturday, Franklin Parrasch of Franklin Parrasch Gallery, New York, said, “This is our best SOFA ever. The market is astoundingly strong. We have sold ¾ of the inventory we brought.” Franklin Parrasch sold major works by John Mason, John Cedarquist, Kathy Butterly and Stephen DeStabler. Renowned ceramic sculptor John Mason made a presentation in the SOFA NEW YORK Lecture Series.

Doug Heller of Heller Gallery, New York said “The galleries of SOFA NEW YORK are winning an ever-expanding and more sophisticated audience for this innovative segment of the contemporary art world.” Heller Gallery sold four large scale (approximately 50 inches tall) Dinosaur Series (opposite image) by Venetian glass maestro, Lino Tagliapietra. Also selling well were glass and oil print wall sculptures by Nicole Chesney. Click here to view Nicole Chesney speaking about her work. (quicktime plugin required)

650 visitors, collectors and arts professionals enjoyed top-notch speakers in the SOFA NEW YORK 2004 Lecture Series. Anne Meszko, Director of Educational Programming, said of this year’s presentations, “They were fabulous, with inspiring lectures by both established and emerging artists and designers with a strong international profile. Speakers came from the United States, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, Korea and Spain. Collectively, this year’s presentations were some of the strongest ever, extremely well thought out and professional.” Over 136 persons enjoyed the talk of preeminent textile designer, Jack Lenor Larsen. Also attracting strong and enthusiastic audiences were: