The inaugural Asia Week New York Contemporary concluded its nine-day run on an upbeat note with healthy sales and an enthusiastic response from collectors. Initially launched to coincide with TEFAF and Frieze, this new adjunct to the well-established Asia Week New York surpassed participating dealers’ expectations and all are keen to return for a second edition next year.

NAKAMURA TAKUO. Set of stoneware sculpted plaques creating an open box-like form decorated with kutani-glazed rinpa-inspired irises. 2016. 18/7/8 x 15 x 13 3/8 in.

“After more than three years of planning, it was a wonderful confluence to have the opening of our exhibition, Beyond Kutani featuring Nakamura Takuo and Takegoshi Jun, coincide with Asia Week New York Contemporary,” said Joan Mirviss of her namesake gallery. “It was exciting to welcome many new faces to our events and see the artists engaged in conversation with a different group of art enthusiasts. Nearly eighty percent of the pieces have been spoken for with thirty-seven works sold.  Both artists have been represented by our gallery for about twenty years, so their work has already entered numerous U.S. museum collections and enjoys a strong following among western collectors.”

Shun Sudo. BUSTLE 3, 2016. Acrylic on canvas. 39 x 39 in. (100 x 100 cm)

Nana Onishi, whose eponymous gallery is located in Chelsea, the center of the world's contemporary art market, drew upon the many people who visited the art fairs during the week. “We saw more people than usual including art advisers and curators,” said Ms. Onishi. “On the opening day of Asia Week New York Contemporary, we organized a live performance for our artist Shun Sudo — in collaboration with a New York based make-up studio MLE Studio — who painted on a live model using his bright, graffiti-pop style art.”  Onishi reported that she met new collectors and sold a number of pieces during the week.

Wu Qiang b. 1977. Spirited Away, 2011 Ink-and-color on silk. 28.5 x 7.0 cm (11 1/4 x 22 1/2)

Said Carol Conover, the managing director of Kaikodo LLC, “We sold a number of works which we otherwise would not have in May, and were delighted that Asian art curators brought their Western contemporary art colleagues to look at pieces together.”  Collectors snapped up four works by Wang Wuxie  "Casual Ideation" to three new clients and "Spirited Away" by Wu Qiang.

Paul Binnie. A Hundred Shades of Ink of Edo: Hiroshige's Edo, 2015, Woodblock print, 16 3/4 by 12 1/8 inches

“Sales were swift from the moment our exhibition opened,” reported Katherine Martin, director of Scholten Japanese Art. “The back-to-back events with artist Paul Binnie in attendance over the weekend were a big hit with collectors.  While most of the visitors were from the tri-state region, some came from considerable distances in order to take advantage of the opportunity to meet the artist.”

Qiu Deshu. Fissuring-Group Portrait, 1996. Ink and acrylic on paper and canvas. 62 x 94 in (157.5 cm x 238.5)

“Our experience of the dynamic initiative of Asia Week New York Contemporary was dramatically rewarding both in terms of the range of those interested enough to visit us, despite other major fairs, and the unexpected level of sales that ensued,” said Michael Goedhuis, whose namesake gallery is based in London. Among the paintings he sold were the Wei Ligang “Gold Ground Diptych,” the Qin Feng and a large Qiu Deshu.  

 “We found it to be a valuable platform for us to connect with potential clients and have several pending offers that would not have been generated had we not participated,” said Peter Kang of Kang Collection Korean Art, while Navin Kumar, of the eponymous Indian and Southeast Asian art gallery, met new collectors and looks forward to exhibiting next year.

For more information, visit www.asiaweekny.com