The Armory Show Unveils 2012 Commission by Artist Theaster Gates at a Reception in His Honor at the Gramercy Park Hotel Limited Edition Work to Benefit The Museum of Modern Art

On Tuesday, October 25, 2011, The Armory Show hosted a private cocktail reception celebrating The Armory Show's 2012 Artist Commission of Theaster Gates at The Rose Bar in the Gramercy Park Hotel. The hotel served as a fitting venue, as it was the original home of the fair, known then as the Gramercy International Art Fair from 1994–1998. An estimated 200 guests joined The Armory Show to celebrate the artist and his work. Notable guests included business executive Desireé Glapion Rogers; art collector
Michael Cox Winmer; real estate tycoon Aby Rosen; curator Douglas Maxwell; art patron and socialite Lisa Anastos; Juanita Jordan; Leslie Bluhm & David Helfand; artist Angel Otero and Steve Learner.

The event kicked off with an exclusive preview hour dedicated to MoMA VIPs. During the 7:00-8:00 p.m. hour, honored guests were given a preview of the limited edition work "Civil Rights Throw Rugs" produced by Theaster Gates and benefiting The Museum of Modern Art. Paul Morris, Founding Director of The Armory Show introduced Gates who then spoke to the affective force behind his work and his skyrocketing career, all the while thanking guests for their support.

Paul Morris noted of the celebration that "annually, The Armory Show has the great pleasure of highlighting the work of an extraordinary artist and to bring their practice onto the international stage. Working with Theaster this year, witnessing his talent, generosity, and passion, has proven to be extraordinary and we are honored to be part of his career during this very special moment."

The fair introduced its annual Artist Commission in 2002. The Armory Show's commissioned artists inspire the visual identity for the fair and their work is featured in the fair's annual catalogue, advertising and marketing materials. In 2006 The Armory Show began publishing a matching annual series of limited editions by its commissioned artists to benefit The Pat Hearn and Colin de Land Cancer Foundation and The Museum of Modern Art. The limited edition piece will benefit the Pat Hearn and Colin de Land Cancer Foundation (www.phcdl.org) and the Pat Hearn and Colin de Land Acquisition Fund at The Museum of Modern Art.

Information on Edition:
Theaster Gates
Civil Rights Throw Rugs, 2011
decommissioned fire hose and trim
limited unique edition
Please contact our offices at
212.645.6440 or
info@thearmoryshow.com for prices
and availability.

About Theaster Gates
Theaster Gates (b. 1973) has exhibited widely, both nationally and internationally. He is represented by Kavi Gupta in Chicago and Berlin. Solo exhibitions include the forthcoming Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (2012); Theaster Gates at the Seattle Art Museum (2011); To Speculate Darkly: Theaster Gates and Dave, the Slave Potter at the Milwaukee Art Museum (2010) and Temple Exercises at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (2010). Group exhibitions include 40 Under 40, Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington D.C. (2012); Feast: Radical Hospitality and Contemporary Art, Smart Museum of Art, Washington D.C. (2012); Grains of Emptiness: Buddhism Inspired Contemporary Art, Rubin Museum of Art, New York (2010) and the Whitney Biennial 2010, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York (2010). Currently Gates is a Loeb Fellow at Harvard University, and he divides his time between Cambridge and Chicago, where he resides.

About The Armory Show
The Armory Show was founded in 1994 by four young New York dealers as The Gramercy International Art Fair. What started as a hotel-based art fair - the first of its kind - has become one of the largest and most respected contemporary art fairs in the world. Building on its tradition of discovery, world-class exhibitors, strong VIP program and engaging exhibition series, The Armory Show is making important changes to the fair's layout, amenities and services for the 2012 edition.

For the 2012 show, award-winning, New York-based architectural firm Bade Stageberg Cox has been engaged to redesign the floor plan with an eye toward enhancing the art fair experience. Pier 94 will include a select group of participating galleries each with a larger presence allowing for a more comfortable art viewing encounter. Visitors will enjoy a redesigned VIP lounge and expanded public and exhibitor lounge areas, a new media lounge - home to The Armory Show's thought-provoking Open Forum talk series, a sit down restaurant and cafe areas catered by "farm-to-table" specialists Great Performances, as well as other communal spaces. An architecturally-designed tented connection between Piers 92 and 94 will offer visitors a defined transition in between the modern and contemporary sections. Other 2012 highlights include the work of The Armory Show 2012 Commission Artist Theaster Gates and Armory Focus, which will feature the dynamic art of the Nordic Countries, curated by Jacob Fabricius, the Director of the Malmö Konsthall. For more information, please visit thearmoryshow.com.

2012 Fair Show Dates and Times
March 8–11, 2012
Piers 92 & 94
Twelfth Avenue at 55th Street
New York City

The Armory Show 2012 Opening Day takes place:
Wednesday, March 7th for invited guests
Thursday, March 8–Saturday, March 10, 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 11, 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Press Contact
Lauren Pearson
Communications Director
The Armory Show
646-616-7433
l.pearson@thearmoryshow.com
thearmoryshow.com