The International Sculpture Objects and Functional Art Fair (SOFA) is now running through Sunday, April 17 at the Park Avenue Armory. Now in its 14th year in New York City, SOFA focuses on contemporary, decorative art and design. This year’s presentation features booths from more than 50 international exhibitors showcasing the work of literally hundreds of artists, many of whom are in attendance at the show. While a significant number of local, New York and other U.S.-based exhibitors are represented, this year’s fair is international in flavor, with galleries from the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Italy, Turkey, Belgium, Denmark, France, Argentina, Brazil, Israel, and Canada in attendance. The feel of the work on display is equally diverse.
The wide range of categories in evidence includes, but is certainly not limited to painting, sculpture, fiber arts, glass arts, ceramics, furniture, jewelry, and, of course, decorative objects. Name the material and you will find it here: wood, glass, metal, fiber, paper, bone, clay, mixed media, and more. The size of the fair is small enough to be intimate and manageable, while at the same time large enough to find a variety of art and design to fit most tastes.
While many of the galleries exhibited the types of objects most typically found at a decorative arts fair, there were many edgy, unique, and surprising pieces to be found as well.
The intricate and innovative beadwork of Jan Huling was highlighted by Chelsea’s Lyons Wier Gallery. Finding inspiration in the colors of the beads, the shapes of her designs as they emerge, and the many found objects she adds to her work, Huling can spend weeks creating her sculptures from a rainbow of seed beads.
browngrotta arts, from Wilton, CT, filled their booth with a series of eye catching fiber and textile art. I was drawn to a single, powerful mixed media piece by artist Judy Mulford. Consisting of more than 50 empty, miniature chairs, wrapped in black linen thread, I found this artwork to be poignant and soulful. Ask to see her piece tucked away in the closet for a different sort of treat.
Gallery S O from London highlighted a series of contemporary objects with a cutting edge feel from a group of artists. Among the stand out pieces was a series of 30 spoons, made out of 108 various materials by Simone ten Hiompel and simply hung for maximum impact. In contrast to the sleekness of many of the objects on display, these spoons came complete with a sense of history and use.
The figurative sculptures from California-based artist Oben Abright exhibited by Echt Gallery from Chicago were all show stoppers. The series, Portraits of Loi Tailang Burma, were exquisitely made from blown and cast glass, cement, steel, oil paint, and mixed media. Each piece was luminous, detailed, and deeply expressive.
The earthenware clay figures from Joan Rasmussen each come complete with their own sense of personality and humor. Presented in quirky and whimsical fashion by next step studios & gallery from Michigan, each of these sculptures competed for the most attention. Rasmussen’s vivid color choices and mixed media additions are the perfect finishing touches.
Nothing satisfies in art as much as an unexpected surprise. I was drawn to the figurative sculptures of California-based artist Margaret Keelan. Exhibited by Duane Reed Gallery from Missouri, from afar I was pulled by what looked to be age-old, distressed and decayed wooden dolls and what turned out to be contemporary clay pieces with an edge.
Among the very many excellent, contemporary pieces displayed in The Pursuit of Porcelain by Ferrin Gallery from Massachusetts, I was pulled by the Humanimals, the porcelain sculptures created by Sergei Isupov. The only thing better than the creative and very apt title of this series, are the pieces themselves: part human, part animal, all attitude.
The unusual combination of antlers, bone, and bits and pieces from 17th–19th century gold frames make for the perfect pairing in Jennifer Trask’s utterly unique and inspired three dimensional pieces and jewelry. Presented by ornamentum from Hudson, N.Y., these pieces appear to present history in the most contemporary way.
Filling the booth with wall to wall delight, Jane Sauer Gallery from Santa Fe, N.M., exhibited a variety of work from 16 artists. The highlight for me was the mixed media sculpture pieces from artist Geoffrey Gorman. Channeling the southwest, these one-of-a-kind creations pull together pieces of rusty metal, bleached-out wood, broken bones, weathered cloth, and the like, to create special, found object assemblages unlike anything you have ever seen.
Also notable from Jane Sauer Gallery were the kiln formed glass with fusible film from Joanne Teasdale…
the mixed media figurative sculptures from Charla Khanna…
the porcelain pieces with personality from Irina Zaytceva…
and the fabric art with paint and metal patina from Lesley Richmond.
SOFA (Sculpture Objects and Functional Art) is currently running at the Park Avenue Armory, located on Park Avenue at 67th Street. Exhibition hours are: Friday, April 15th 11am to 6pm; Saturday, April 16th 11am to 7pm; Sunday, April 17th 12pm to 6pm. General admission is $25 and four-day admission is $40. Please visit the website for details about special exhibitions and the lecture series.
