A Second Art Fair Arrives in Bridgehampton

Three white tents housing artMRKT Hamptons rose last week while crowds clamored at nearby. The tables are now turning: As ArtHamptons decamps, artMRKT Hamptons welcomes visitors to the first-time art fair held on ’s grounds.

ArtMRKT Hamptons debuts on Thursday with an opening preview benefiting and continues through Sunday.

A fund-raising auction through MRKTworks will benefit three area nonprofits. The online portion is already live; on-site bidding continues throughout the fair.

Each of the three works being auctioned is slated for a specific organization: , and the .

The opening preview and the artwork auction are the only happenings at artMRKT Hamptons, said Max Fishko, who founded the fair with Jeffrey Wainhause. He said ArtMRKT fairs aim to connect with the community and keep art front and center.

ArtMRKT, a new organization, presents contemporary and modern artworks. They are presenting three art fairs this year: artMRKT San Francisco was held in May, artMRKT Hamptons and Texas Contemporary will be held October in Houston.

ArtMRKT Hamptons is a small fair by design. There will be around
33 galleries presenting art, according to the fair's website. The fair is
predominately a national one, with the bulk of the galleries based in New York. Galleries also hail from Florida, Rhode Island, California, Maryland and Chicago, with one gallery having locations in New York City and Amsterdam.

Hamptons galleries include , and . New York City galleries with area connections include KEYES ART PROJECTS and Leila Heller Gallery.

Fishko has his own New York City-Hamptons connections. He is a former director with the Hamptons Expo Group, which produces ArtHamptons.

Fishko grew up in the gallery business. His grandmother, Bella Fishko, founded Forum Gallery in New York, he said, which is now run by his parents. 

Fewer galleries and artMRKT’s intent to gather galleries with a similar disposition toward art are a few reasons why Markel decided to participate in the new art fair, she said. Markel hopes the new fair will attract new fairgoers and will increase her gallery’s exposure, she said. Location was another reason: Kathryn Markel Fine Art is one block away from the fair.

Becoming art fair neighbors with galleries who present quality
work is an important consideration when selecting art fairs no matter where the location, she said. “People judge you by the company you keep,” she said.

will be held from July 14 to 17 at the Bridgehampton Historical Society grounds. An on July 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. benefits Southampton Hospital. A VIP Preview Party follows from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets for the benefit are $100. Fair tickets are $15 per day or $25 for a three-day pass.