Breath of Life for the Merchandise Mart & Art Chicago?

Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc has promoted Steven Levy to become the organization's new senior vice president of the art group, putting him in charge of the Armory Show, Art Platform - Los Angeles,Volta Basel, Volta NY, Art Toronto, Art Chicago, and NEXT. He will fill the shoes of Mark Falanga, who was promoted to become president of the mega-sized property management firm and trade show operator in June after the resignation of longtime head Christopher Kennedy.


As a native Chicagoan who happens to work in the contemporary art market the possibility of bringing new life to Art Chicago is something I am optimistically anxious for. Over the past few years, the Merchandise Mart's biggest fairs, Art Chicago and  the Armory Show, have received flagging reviews from gallerists and the media due to its lax admission standards for exhibitors. Have you noticed none of the big name, blue chips participate, opting to be more selective with their fair choices: notable Art Basel - and its Miami counterpart - and Frieze. 

Levy's hire follows a string of summer staff changes at Merchandise Mart. In June, museum curatorStaci Boris was appointed to run Art Chicago. Company veteran Myron Maurer took over as COO when Falanga took over as president. 

Hopefully with these staffing changes the windy city arts scene can catch it's breath and get gallerists and collectors alike singing, 'sweet home chicago'!

www.artchicago.com