“People who love master drawings understand that each stroke of the pen or pencil represents the very first creative spark of the artist. You are being invited to enter the artist’s mind and share his passion. No other art form quite expresses an artist’s creativity as well as a good drawing.” London drawings dealer Crispian Riley-Smith coordinates New York’s week-long event as well as its sister event during London Art Week each July. He says, “By agreeing to coordinate their exhibitions during a single week in galleries on New York’s Upper East Side, the world’s most respected dealers in master drawings have made it easier for both private and institutional clients to see the newest items on the market from the very top tier of specialists. For individuals interested in learning more about the quality and range of drawings on offer, there’s simply no better way to expose yourself to the very finest examples during a single week each year.” Over the years both founders of MASTER DRAWINGS IN NEW YORK have seen that visitors are “surprised to see that not all our drawings date to the early centuries. We have member dealers who specialize in modern and contemporary works too. From illuminations drawn during medieval times, to preparatory studies for iconic masterworks by artists of the renown of Raphael, Titian, and Gainsborough, to sketches by Picasso and Miro, and wonderful modern and contemporary drawings. What visitors love is that they can enjoy the full range of drawing options in the course of an afternoon visiting a handful of East Side galleries.”
To make MASTER DRAWINGS IN NEW YORK as comprehensive as possible, each dealer puts his or her individual stamp on their own exhibitions. They invite and entertain their private and museum clients as they like but also stage a Private Preview for clients the day before MASTER DRAWINGS IN NEW YORK officially begins. In 2015 that will be Friday, January 23, from 4 to 8pm.
London dealer Stephen Ongpin says, “Having participated in MASTER DRAWINGS IN NEW YORK since its inception, I have found that it has become one of the most important events of the gallery’s calendar. In previous years drawings have been acquired from my exhibitions at MDNY by several American and European museums, as well as a significant number of private collectors. The range of works shown at MDNY, covering five centuries of drawings, watercolours and oil sketches, is one of its great strengths, and during the week the participating galleries become meeting places for curators, collectors and scholars, as well as, of course, all lovers of drawings. Connecticut dealer Mia Weiner adds, “Crispian has been a thoughtful and excellent organizer and there was never a better venue for me as a drawings dealer.”
Each year noted experts on the subject have contributed the introduction to the MASTER DRAWINGS IN NEW YORK brochure. The introduction to the 2015 brochure has been written by John Marciari, the newly appointed Charles W. Engelhard Curator and Department Head of the Morgan Library & Museum. Previous contributors include artist Eric Fischl; William Griswold, former Director The Morgan Library and Museum, New York; Cara Dufour Denison, Curator Emerita Drawings and Prints at The Morgan; Rhoda Eitel-Porter, former Curator and Department Head, The Morgan Library; Isabelle Derveaux, Curator Modern and Contemporary Drawings, The Morgan Library; Rick Scorza, Thaw Senior Fellow Morgan Drawing Institute; and Margaret Holben Ellis, Eugene Thaw Professor of Paper Conservation and Director, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University and Director, Thaw Conservation Center Morgan Library & Museum. The 2015 MDNY brochure is available at www.masterdrawingsinnewyork.com in November.

 

 

 

The 2014 brochure is available at www.masterdrawingsinnewy ork.com