The design and art communities rallied at one of the industry’s most anticipated events of the year
Words by DIANE DORRANS SAEKS
Collectors, artists, leading art dealers, cultural philanthropists and top names in the tech sector poured into the Fort Mason Center on Wednesday, Jan. 15, for the FOG Design+Art preview gala, which benefited the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). It was the vivid seventh edition of the popular show and drew enthusiasts and supporters such as Juliet de Baubigny, Sloan Barnett, Seth Matarasso, and Kaitlyn and Mike Krieger.
Designer Kelly Lasser, who has attended all seven years, admired the array of modern art and design represented by nearly 50 international galleries, remarking, “This year’s show is so polished, and everything is of compelling current interest.”
Allison Speer, one of the fair’s founders, loved the monumental bronze mirror by Los Angeles artist David Wiseman at Kasmin. “The array of monkeys, wild leaves, lizards and cherry blossom makes me smile,” said Speer as she cruised the dazzling booths.
Additional highlights included Stanlee Gatti’s graphic repeat of his 21POP installation, featuring art and projects by California College of the Arts students. And guests including Barbara Brown, Sonya Yu, Douglas Durkin and Katie Paige admired the boldly delineated booth of Chicago dealer Lawrence Converso, who presented a dramatic collection of chic furniture by beloved S.F. designer John Dickinson, whose work is included in the SFMOMA permanent collection. “I’ve admired the designs of John Dickinson since the ’70s, and the integrity of his classical work reverberates today,” Converso said.
On the evening’s agenda were conversations with artists Rashaad Newsome, Simon Denny and Rodney McMillian, and discussions surrounding the intersection of art and technology, including one between Tina Vaz, artist in residence at Facebook, and Elena Soboleva, director of online sales at David Zwirner.
Another crowd-pleaser among guests like Benjamin Dhong, Charles de Lisle, Komal Shah, Abigail Turin, and Yvonne Force Villareal and Leo Villareal (the designer of the popular Bay Bridge light sculpture) was a conversation with architects Tatiana Bilbao and Marshall Brown led by SFMOMA Architecture + Design curators Joseph Becker and Jennifer Dunlop Fletcher about community-building. Following the festive evening, design connoisseurs and international dealers reported strong opening-night sales.
Feature image: The CONVERSO GALLERY booth at FOG DESIGN+ART featured furniture designed by JOHN DICKINSON. Photo courtesy of the Converso Gallery, Chicago.
Jan. 21, 2020
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