Untitled Art, the acclaimed contemporary art fair, returns to Houston this October. | Courtesy of World Red Eye
A prestigious contemporary art fair is coming back to the Bayou City. Untitled Art, Houston returns this October for its second edition. To mark the occasion and kick off plans, the show commissioned two artist projects that will be unveiled this weekend at the 39th annual Art Car Parade on Saturday, April 11 in downtown Houston.
The art show will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center October 2 to 4. An invitation-only VIP and Press Preview will take place on Thursday, October 1.
Houston was the organization’s first expansion from its home base in Miami. When the show arrived in the city last fall, it showcased the works of contemporary artists from Houston, other parts of Texas, and around the world.
Houstonians showed lots of enthusiasm for last year’s inaugural fair. The organization reported that several galleries reported six-figure sales and sold-out booths, and leaders from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The Menil Collection, and Contemporary Arts Museum Houston were in attendance all weekend.
This year, the show promises to be even more dynamic, with programming that includes live podcast recordings, panel discussions, culinary activations, and artist-led projects with an emphasis on embedding the fair within Houston’s civic and cultural fabric. Show attendees can expect an international roster of galleries alongside collectors, curators, and artists increasingly attuned to Houston’s evolving position as both a cultural gateway to Latin America and a substantial force in the international art scene.
“Houston has proven to be a vital artery for the contemporary art market, blending a deep institutional history with a bold, global future,” Jeffrey Lawson, founder of Untitled Art, said in a statement. “We are thrilled to return and deepen our commitment to the city’s creative community.”
Beyond the exhibits at the show, Untitled Art has made a commitment to helping ensure art and art collecting is accessible to the larger community. Last year, programming events took place all over the the city, with private collection visits, studio tours with artists, and guided engagements at institutions such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The Menil Collection, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, and Asia Society Texas Center, in collaboration with more than two dozen cultural partners.
This year’s Art Car entry marks the first of its kind for the organization. Untitled Art commissioned collaborations with ascendant emerging Los Angeles-based artists Aryo Toh Djojo and Mario Ayala. Ayala’s exhibition Seven Vans is currently on view at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.
“Houston continues to assert itself as a cultural capital of the South, and the inaugural edition confirmed that there is a serious and attentive audience invested in contemporary art from local, national, and international dealers alike,” said Michael Slenske, director of Untitled Art, Houston.
Information about ticket sales will be available closer to the opening.