The Intersect Aspen art fair is back, bringing together 31 galleries from 21 cities around the world to the heart of Aspen’s art scene. The art fair starts on Sunday and continues next Thursday at the Aspen Ice Garden.
Returning to the city for its second personal iteration, Intersect Aspen is featuring a handful of new galleries, more artist booth talks and more programming in collaboration with cultural organizations in the Roaring Fork Valley. The art fair will be open to attendees from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily, with additional VIP and public events held at various locations around the city throughout the week.
“The great thing about the fair is that there really is something for everyone,” said Becca Hoffman, managing director for Intersect Art and Design.
Intersect Art and Design was launched in April 2020 by brothers Tim and Dirk von Gal. The organization umbrellas three fairs, including Intersect Aspen, Intersect Palm Springs and Sculpture Objects Functional Art in Chicago.
Hoffman has been at the heart of cultivating the three Intersect fairs from the beginning. While she only had three months to prepare for last year’s inaugural Aspen fair, leading up to this summer’s edition was an in-depth planning process – and “it all comes together with very good way”, said Hoffman.
Intersect Aspen’s robust roster of exhibitors this year includes galleries hailing from locations all over the world – from St. Louis, Missouri, to Zurich, Switzerland. Many of the exhibitors are bringing new works to be presented for the first time at Intersect Aspen, some of which were created specifically for the art fair, Hoffman explained.
“There is new work to be discovered; there are established names that you will be able to see,” Hoffman said. “And building from our relationship last year, I think this year we’re seeing a lot of great local programming and also opportunities to engage with artists who will be in town.”
Throughout the duration of the fair, there will be seven different artist booth talks, with at least one per day, held on site at the Aspen Ice Garden. Presenting artists include Kelly Lynn Jones, Hiejin Yoo, Kysa Johnson, Suchitra Mattai and Jane Burke, Jessie Edelman, Marc Dennis and Alison Van Pelt. Each lecture takes place in the booth where the work of the presenting artist is exhibited.
“It’s a great opportunity for people to actually get into the work and get to know the artists — get to know the makers behind the work they’re seeing on the walls,” Hoffman said.
Other on-site happenings open to all art fair ticket holders include a daily happy hour from 4 to 5 p.m. with complimentary craft cocktails from Doña Vega Mezcal and the screening of short films by Aspen Film that will be shown in the Intersect Lounge during the fair.
Roaring Fork Valley food truck Gerb’s Grub will be stationed outside the fair’s main entrance each day, and the Aspen-based Earth Force Climate Command will install “Earth Pod” at the entrance to Intersect Aspen, too.
Growing partnerships with valley-based organizations, local art galleries and individual Aspen residents has been a high priority for Hoffman this year. In terms of public events, Intersect Aspen is collaborating with the Aspen Chamber Resort Association and the Red Brick Center for the Arts to host a Midsummer Cultural Celebration on August 4th from 4-7 p.m. in the Red Brick Center.
Throughout the evening, there will be art activations and demos, live performances and cabaret, as well as food, drink and mingling with local artists, non-profit leaders and community members. The event is free and meant to be a celebration of the valley’s enriching arts and culture scene, Hoffman said.
Intersect Aspen is also promoting opening receptions and events held at Aspen art galleries participating in the fair this year. Listed as part of the fair’s programming is Hexton Gallery’s opening event for the exhibition “Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Ephemeral Nature” on Monday evening and Casterline|Goodman’s artist reception Gallery on August 4 with Alison Van Pelt, who is giving one of the artist booth talks at the fair.
In renewing its partnerships with Aspen Film and Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Intersect Aspen is also helping to organize a special screening event at the ranch on August 3. The event is part of the fair’s VIP program — the VIP package also includes access to the opening and closing receptions, private collector home tours, the “Buy What You Love ? Why? How?” panel and more.
“Our interest in Intersect is to connect communities and make a lasting impression — and not just to be there for the weekend, but to really be a part of Aspen’s cultural community,” Hoffman said. “We want to be a valuable addition to the cultural calendar in Aspen during the summer.”
The Intersect Aspen art fair runs Sunday, July 31 through Thursday, August 4 at the Aspen Snow Garden. A single-day pass is $25, a multi-day pass is $50 and the all-access pass — which includes the Sunday opening brunch and additional VIP programming — is $100 . Tickets can be purchased at intersectaspen.com.
Jacqueline Reynolds is land & entertainment reporter for the Aspen Daily News. She can be reached at jacqueline@aspendailynews.com.
