Salon Art + Design looks to print in face of Covid cancellation

The Salon Art + Design fair isn't throwing in the towel that easily. While the art market has endured the successive cancellation of major contemporary art fairs like Art Basel Miami and Frieze London, Salon Art + Design is launching a luxurious magazine in lieu of holding its ninth edition live in New York.

Around 45 American and international art galleries have contributed to the creation of the 144-page magazine, titled Salon - The Intersection of Art + Design. Art critics Benjamin Genocchio and Melissa Feldman have penned articles for the magazine, and there are Q&As with Wendy Goodman, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Glenn Adamson and Charles Zana. 

Salon - The Intersection of Art + Design also features QR codes giving art fans access to additional digital content, such as videos, artist bios and descriptions of pieces that would have been on sale at the New York fair's ninth edition. The magazine was produced in association with the British agency Cultureshock Media, which has previously created similar publications for Sotheby's, Tate and the Victoria & Albert Museum. 

"Many of us, with a professional background in magazines, combined our editorial and visual skills to bring events like Salon Art + Design to life," said Jill Bokor, who worked for 25 years in print media before becoming the executive director of Salon Art + Design. "We are now returning to our roots, translating the DNA of the fair into a collectible, thoughtful publication, which celebrates the unmatched quality of our exhibitors, collectors, and guests." 

The digital version of Salon - The Intersection of Art + Design will be available on the art fair's website from November 19, the date the ninth edition was due to open in New York. Anyone who wants to get their hands on a print copy of the magazine can place an order online for US$25. 

In an interview with Artnet News, Jill Bokor said that the print magazine was no "quick fix" to make up for the cancellation of 2020's in-person Salon Art + Design. "Our clients have had such a rough time these past few months, like many other industries. If we basically break even and it's successful and well-received, we can consider doing another version in the spring," she added. 

The 10th edition of Salon Art + Design is scheduled to take place November 11-15, 2021.