My Art Fair Experience—Past and Present
My Art Fair Experience
A little over a year ago, I was brand new to NYC and was just starting to familiarize myself with the art scene. A friend was in town exhibiting at Spring Break Art Fair, and I helped de-install his work afterward. That same weekend I was applying to a fair myself—The Other Art Fair’s Spring 2020 edition in Brooklyn. I had visited the Fall 2019 fair, and was blown away. Here’s me, at that fair:
There was so much genuinely cool art that felt relevant and accessible. I knew my work could fit in, so I waited for the next open call and applied. I got in!
Well… the pandemic happened shortly after and that fair and subsequent fairs were canceled. So what now? Like many artists I’ve been exploring ways of sharing my art online. This summer I created a body of work inspired by the cocktail of climate crisis, rising societal tension, and a global pandemic. I wanted the work to be seen in response to what was happening in the world—in real time. Shortly after completing the series, I hosted the exhibition on my website. To give it the feeling of a gallery show, I posted multiple views of each piece, some 3rd party writing about the series, a guest book, and a sales platform. This was my first taste of creating an online exhibition.
The folks at The Other Art Fair were very communicative about how the pandemic would affect their programming, and they were super supportive of the artist who missed out on the Spring 2020 fair. They’re great people to work with and I’m excited for what’s next: The Virtual Editions Global Launch.
Not just a webpage of jpegs, but a true virtual art fair. I’m amped to be presenting my work there, and I’m also excited to coast around the virtual environment and take in the fair experience.There’s work from myself and 74 other artists from around the globe!
The fair is free to attend and takes place March 10-14. You can also schedule a video chat to talk about the work. I don’t want to give toooo much of a preview, but here’s a screenshot to give you an idea of what this fair is like:
Virtual Exhibition
I’ll be exhibiting at The Other Art Fair’s Virtual Editions next week, along with 70 other artists from across he globe. The theme of my booth is information anxiety. It features select word paintings and abstract works from the past three years. Sign up to roam the virtual space here.
Press Release: This Anxious Earth
This Anxious Earth
new work by Seth LeDonne
September 10, 2020 — September 31, 2020
online viewing room: www.LeDonne.studio/earth
Inspired by the last six months of life on our blue planet, Seth LeDonne’s upcoming online art exhibition, This Anxious Earth, will feature word-based paintings inspired by the cocktail of climate crisis, rising societal tension, and a global pandemic. The artworks ask what we’ve all been thinking: Will society collapse? And if so, will there ever be a new world?
Detail
In This Anxious Earth, LeDonne renders bewilderment, privacy, and confession through hidden, distorted, and re-built pieces of text. The paintings in this body of work call into question the facade of normalcy we’ve become accustomed to, while offering humor—however dark—as a coping mechanism. Inspired by and existing in our socially distanced world, the show will be open to the public as an online viewing room, Sept. 10-31, 2020, at www.LeDonne.studio/earth.
fate of the entire world or just call of its people, 24”x20”x1.5”, alcohol-based ink, canvas, and vinyl-based paint on birch panel, 2020
In This Anxious Earth, LeDonne renders bewilderment, privacy, and confession through hidden, distorted, and re-built pieces of text. The paintings in this body of work call into question the facade of normalcy we’ve become accustomed to, while offering humor—however dark—as a coping mechanism. Inspired by and existing in our socially distanced world, the show will be open to the public as an online viewing room, Sept. 10-31, 2020, at www.LeDonne.studio/earth.
Detail
Announcement: a new series
A lot of things changed this year, but one that did not was making a new body of work. This new series of paintings is inspired by the existential effects of living in a facade of normalcy and stability during a time of climate crisis, rising societal tension, and a global pandemic.
They'll be on view from 9.10.2020 through 9.31.2020 via http://www.ledonne.sudio/earth
What a change a year makes
It's hard to believe the Rolling Coal exhibition was a year ago. It was a split show with Derek Reese, and it focused on our relationship with Masculinity. At the time, I thought about how vast and pervasive its toxic influence was but at the time I saw it as separate issue from racism. I've come to see how interconnected so different forms of oppression are in what Bell Hooks calls our imperialist, white-supremacist, capitalist patriarchy. I've seen a lot of artists continuing to highlight anti-racist and social justice work on their feeds, and I'm impressed by their commitment. A lot of people are going to 'get back to their normal lives' as time goes on, but I think it's especially important for artists to continue using their platforms and for all of us people who hold white/male/straight privilege to continue looking making and keeping commitments to change.
TOAF / Saatchi Feature
The Other Art Fair has been postponed due to Covid 19. In the meantime, they’re hosting The Online Studios on Saatchi Art’s website. Excited to be featured there/ looking forward to the IRL fair and returning to a more social world.
TOAF Participation
Excited to make my NYC debut this Spring, at The Other Art Fair Brooklyn.
Presented by Saatchi Art, in partnership with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE®, The Other Art Fair showcases work by 130 talented independent artists with artworks starting from $150, each hand picked by a Selection Committee of art world experts. Art lovers can visit the fair with the confidence that they are buying from the very best and most promising emerging artists in a unique and immersive experience.