Digital Editions
Newsletters
Subscribe
Digital Editions
Newsletters
Art market
Museums & heritage
Exhibitions
Books
Podcasts
Columns
Technology
Adventures with Van Gogh
Art market
Museums & heritage
Exhibitions
Books
Podcasts
Columns
Technology
Adventures with Van Gogh
Tefaf New York
news

Galleries play to the Park Avenue Armory’s Gothic Revival style—and its taxidermied moose heads

Period rooms on the first and second floors are occupied by several first-time participants at this year’s fair

Kabir Jhala
9 May 2025
Share
Hostler Burrows at Tefaf 2024. The New York gallery is showing in the Moose Room again this year

Photo: Joe Kramm; courtesy Hostler Burrows

Hostler Burrows at Tefaf 2024. The New York gallery is showing in the Moose Room again this year

Photo: Joe Kramm; courtesy Hostler Burrows

Tefaf is the only fair held in the Park Avenue Armory to make use of its period rooms on the first and second floors, whose architectural features reflect the building’s original Gothic Revival style.

Among the galleries that have taken stands in this section—which appear closer to curated presentations than the standard spaces downstaiArs in the main hall—are several first-time participants to the fair.

These include David Aaron, a London gallery specialising in ancient artefacts, whose presentation is anchored by a Hultmark Horus falcon from third century BC Egypt. Hollow cast in bronze, “it likely served as a votive offering or even a coffin for a mummified falcon”, according to a gallery release, while the remains of rods at its base suggest it was also used as temple furniture.

Another first-time exhibitor, David Gill, is showing furniture designed by the late starchitect Zaha Hadid, including tables from her Liquid Glacial series (2012-15), which pushed the boundaries of sculptural acrylic in design. Also making its Tefaf debut is New York’s Ortuzar gallery, which, along with Marc Selwyn Fine Art from Los Angeles, is staging a joint presentation of the US sculptor Lee Bontecou.

Although the features of the Armory’s period rooms, with their dark wood panelling and idiosyncratic features, might deter some exhibitors, other gallerists relish the unusual dialogues that are created by showing there.

No white walls

“In the past we’ve always tried to engage with the historical space and create a setting where the furniture and works interact with the period details of the room,” says Juliet Burrows, the co-founder of Hostler Burrows. “As this meant we used no white walls, our space has always had a moody and dramatic feeling.” The gallery is showing for the sixth consecutive year in the Moose Room—whose walls are lined with taxidermied moose heads.

“As we are specialised in Scandinavian design, the moose heads were never a deterrent for us; according to lore they were shot by [the former US president] Teddy Roosevelt,” she adds.

The gallery is this year showing Scandinavian furniture by designers including Torbjørn Kvasbø and Caroline Slotte. It will also update its usual presentation style to better highlight the moose. “In the past we’ve let the moose heads disappear into the darkness; this year we have added swathes of muslin ceiling, which will create more light overhead and allow the moose to have more of a presence.”

  • Tefaf New York, Park Avenue Armory, 9-13 May
Tefaf New YorkPark Avenue ArmoryArt fairs
Share
Subscribe to The Art Newspaper’s digital newsletter for your daily digest of essential news, views and analysis from the international art world delivered directly to your inbox.
Newsletter sign-up
Information
About
Contact
Cookie policy
Data protection
Privacy policy
Frequently Asked Questions
Subscription T&Cs
Terms and conditions
Advertise
Sister Papers
Sponsorship policy
Follow us
Instagram
Bluesky
LinkedIn
Facebook
TikTok
YouTube
© The Art Newspaper

Related content

Art marketreview
3 May 2019

Watch out Frieze, here comes Tefaf with its mac and cheese

Sales to the Upper East Side set may take their time at the New York fair, but they do happen and exhibitors praise its slick presentation and diverse offering

Anna Brady
New York Spring Fairs 2023news
12 May 2023

At Tefaf New York, dealers spotlight work by women

Gallerists at the fair say more collectors are invested in greater gender diversity among their holdings and are keen to invest in art by women

Carlie Porterfield
Fairsnews
2 May 2018

Is Tefaf New York Spring favouring mega-galleries over Maastricht regulars?

Fair’s second edition attracts new high profile exhibitors, but some dealers complain that US expansion has prompted a departure from Dutch fair's historical roots

Anna Brady
Art marketpreview
28 September 2018

US fairs help bring new blood to Tefaf Maastricht

The success of Tefaf New York Spring this year marked a sea-change

Anna Brady