The inaugural Metro Show art fair, which continues through Sunday at the Metropolitan Pavilion on 18th Street, is a must see. With its eclectic, chic mix of Americana, outsider, contemporary and fine art, as well antiques from the American Antiques Show, there’s a sense of the unexpected and elegance, all without being overwhelming.
The 35 or so exhibitors provide great diversity and vitality, from the 20th century furniture, to the Japanese prints and colorful African art. Moreover, each exhibit effectively stands on its own amid the spacious exhibition hall, with signature touches and distinct backdrops to romance the works of art. There’s also a quirky dimension provided by London’s Museum of Everything and its limited-edition series previously unavailable in this country. The Museum of Everything collaborates with contemporary artists, curators, musicians and thinkers and has attracted over 300,000 visitors since its launch in 2009.
For the Metro Show, museum founder James Brett launched “The Books of Everything,” a retrospective of the museum’s first four exhibitions including exclusive essays and contributions from Maurizio Cattelan, Cindy Sherman, Ed Ruscha, Nick Cave, Grayson Perry, Sir Ken Robinson, Damien Hirst, David Byrne, John Baldessari, and Christian Boltanski, among other artists.
Many of the dealers credited Metro Show director Caroline Kerrigan Lerch for creating something special and having a new vision for the next generation of art fairs. As Frank Maresca, of the Ricco Maresca Gallery, said, “Caroline has bridged the gap between the 
worlds of antiques and fine art.”
In addition, Lerch established her own contemporary art exhibit for the show, which she called Kerrigan Campbell “art + projects/The Viewing Room.” For sure, the Metro Show embodies a consummate understanding of the past, present, and future of art, and is as relevant to established American dealers as it could be to any new specialist.
By Brigitte Saint Ouen
