Annual International Expositions of Sculpture Objects & Functional Art: SOFA CHICAGO, SOFA NEW YORK and SOFA WEST: Santa Fe.

At SOFA expositions, prominent international galleries and dealers present masterworks bridging the worlds of design, decorative and fine arts, showcasing the rich visual heritage of the decorative arts alongside new, innovative expressions. The works presented bridge historical periods, art movements and cultures, from ethnographica, Asian arts and mid-twentieth century modern to the most cutting-edge contemporary arts and design. The expositions also feature an acclaimed Lecture Series and educational Special Exhibits.

In 2005, Expressions of Culture, Inc., producer of SOFA CHICAGO and SOFA NEW YORK, joined dmg world media company (dmgworldmedia.com), an international exhibition and publishing company that produces more than 300 market-leading trade exhibitions, consumer shows and fairs, in addition to 45 related magazines, newspapers, directories and market reports.

In 2009 Michael Franks, Chief Operating Officer, dmg world media, along with Mark Lyman, former Vice-President, dmg world media’s Art & Antiques Fairs and SOFA Founding Director have purchased the three internationally renowned Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fairs, SOFA CHICAGO, SOFA NEW YORK and SOFA WEST: Santa Fe from dmg world media creating a new jointly owned firm, The Art Fair Company, Inc.

The Art Fair Company has recently launched The Intuit Show of Folk and Outsider Art alongside SOFA Chicago and SOFA Santa Fe, and has been contracted to produce The Art and Antique Dealers League of America's new Spring Show at the New York Armory. The company's warehouse and Head Office are in Sawyer Michigan where most of it's employees are based. There are two smaller satellite offices - a marketing office in Chicago and an administrative office in West Palm Beach.

Roberta Smith, art critic, The New York Times wrote of the fair, "Presence is what counts, and it can be found in almost every booth."

HISTORY OF SHOWS

SOFA CHICAGO

SOFA CHICAGO
1994-Present. SOFA CHICAGO was inaugurated at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in 1994, with 58 exhibitors and 14,000 persons attending. In 1995, SOFA CHICAGO moved to Festival Hall at Chicago's historic Navy Pier. Since then, the exposition has grown steadily in the number of exhibitors, averaging 95 - 100 galleries and dealers in recent years, and attendance has increased over 100%. A record 35,000 persons attended SOFA CHICAGO 2007.

SOFA CHICAGO, the largest and longest continually-running art fair in Chicago, is a mainstay in its cultural and social calendar. Mary Daniels, senior arts writer, The Chicago Tribune, wrote, "New art forms never before seen and rich artisan traditions come together in a synergistic explosion of creativity at SOFA CHICAGO... A sense of discovery and surprise always permeates this show, one of the most anticipated cultural events in this city." Jim Yood, critic and historian, Art + Auction and Chicago Public Radio/WBEZ-FM, said, "SOFA's high-end, cutting-edge mix clearly has global appeal. It's a really wonderful art fair."

SOFA NEW YORK

SOFA NEW YORK
1998-Present In its inaugural year, SOFA NEW YORK 1998 sold every square foot of available exhibitor space in the prestigious Park Avenue Armory (formerly Seventh Regiment Armory) on Manhattan's Upper East Side, and enjoyed 9,000 visitors; by 2006, attendance had increased over 55% to 13,500. SOFA NEW YORK has been increasingly embraced by the New York fine art establishment.

SOFA WEST: Santa Fe

SOFA WEST: Santa Fe

A third International Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair was launched June 11 - 14, 2009 at the Santa Fe Convention Center in Santa Fe, NM, presented by an elite line-up of 35 international dealers. SOFA WEST: Santa Fe opened with a bang on Wednesday, June 10, with an Opening Night Preview and Reception to benefit the New Mexico Museum of Art Design Collection and an invitation-only VIP preview. The show floor was packed with an estimated 2000 persons. Keith Toler, Executive Director of the Santa Fe Community Convention Center said it was “without a doubt, the largest crowd for an opening event we’ve ever seen.” Tom Agesson, Executive Director of the Museum of New Mexico Foundation said, “It was such a festive evening and very exciting to see the community come out in force.”