ArtPalmBeach
With ArtPalmBeach, it’s hard to discern whether Lee Ann and David Lester were lucky (or insightful) enough to see the future of art in South Florida when or if South Floridians are the lucky ones to have had the Lesters pioneer a blooming cultural landscape.
The Lesters do seem to have a knack for seeing emerging art markets before they emerge. Take, for example, Miami. In 1990, the art world was skeptical about South Florida when the Lesters announced the ArtMiami fair.
Lee Ann remembers, “We were here before anyone else, and people really didn’t believe there was going to be a market here. I remember the New York press writing about us that there was nothing but a beach and cultural wasteland, and maybe a lot of drug dealers.”
It’s true that there weren’t many museums in Miami and that there were a lot of drug dealers. There supposedly also weren’t many collectors. But there were.
“Dreaming of You” by Drebin
Then there is Hong Kong, where the Lesters found the ArtAsia fair in 1992. They were very early in getting into China as international art dealers. The Chinese government eventually started putting pressure on the art & antique dealing industry, pushing many dealers and private collectors out of the market.
Yet it still speaks to the Lesters’ keen sensibility when we consider that both the Miami and Hong Kong markets became the future settings for Art Basel bringing in tens of thousands of people and obscene amounts of money to both the event organizers and the local economy.
Lee Ann, a trained industrial psychologist, and David, an attorney became passionate art collectors early in their careers. Realizing they could always go back to their original paths, they decided to give it a go by opening a small gallery in Los Angeles. They became international art dealers representing artists from Spain, Mexico, and China. In one way or another, they’ve been working in art for the past 28 years– ArtMiami, ArtChicago, ArtAsia, Olympia in London, the SeaFair.
Fred Crull, Angelica, Oil, Wax on Canvas, 30Hx24W, 2013, AiBo
It was a serendipitous route they took into the art world, and it was a serendipitous route that brought them to ArtPalmBeach. As the market in China took a downturn, it was a boarding pass with a layover in West Palm Beach that sparked the notion that WPB was the exact market dealers had been hoping for and would be looking for.
The largest art event, The Palm Beach International Art & Antique Fair was founded in 1997. The Lesters took over in 2010. Over the past six years, they’ve helped the fair evolve into ArtPalmBeach, a contemporary art event featuring paintings, of course, but also photography and sculptures. In its current incarnation, the fair now boasts everything from Picassos that could bring in $9 million to major icons of contemporary art to new emerging artists. There are a series of lectures, 2 each day, 85 international galleries and dealers, live performances, and the third annual juried art show with ArtSynergy.
Clark Priftis Art- Abby Modell, Celestial Ocean Blue, 2015, Bottom 27inL x 25inW, top 12inL x 12inW, Hand Blown Glass
The posters waiting for you in this month’s PureHoney are also the official 2016 ArtPalmBeach Posters–and part of the new emerging artist component of the fair celebrating its nineteenth year. In the first annual contest, students from Palm Beach State College and Dreyfoos School of Arts were invited to participate in a contest that would give new artists a first taste at exposure through Palm Beach County’s largest art event. VIEW POSTERS
Over the years, there’s been a noticeable change in the attitude of the culture toward art and its relationship to our communities. Lee Ann notes that “if you look at young millenials today, if you ask them who their hero is, it’s Elon Musk. They idealize people with great ideas. My generation was maybe more enamored with luxury good products. Today, we know so much more about the brain and the importance of art to education and development.” She also points out that for every dollar spent on art in a community, $6 is returned to that community.
The social and economic impact is undeniable, and after nearly 30 years of bringing art to unexpected places, they are now turning the focus on the next generation of artists, collectors, and dealers to continue the work they’ve been doing.
Now, aren’t we the lucky ones?
Art Palm Beach emerges January 20 with the First View and Collector’s Invitational at Palm Beach County Convention Center. The fair runs through Sunday, January 24. One day passes are available for $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Multi-day passes are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. GET TICKETS. See a full list of exhibitors and more information at ArtPalmBeach.com.
FAIR HOURS
Thursday, Jan 21 - 12pm - 7pm
Friday, Jan 22 - 12pm - 9pm
Saturday, Jan 23 - 12pm - 7pm
Sunday, Jan 24 - 12pm - 6pm
~ Jessica Chesler
