New “alternative art fair” Esther to launch in New York during Frieze Week.
Interior view of the Estonian House, New York. Courtesy of the Estonian House.
Gallerists Margot Samel from New York and Olga Temnikova from Temnikova & Kasela in Tallinn, Estonia have announced the launch of a new alternative art fair. Named Esther, the event will run this year from May 1st through May 4th, concurrently with Frieze New York.
Samel and Temnikova said they hoped Esther would challenge conventional art fair formats, noting the influence of new initiatives like Basel Social Club and Condo: “We’ve always been interested in alternative models for gallery collaboration beyond the traditional art fair,” the duo said in a joint statement, noting their shared Baltic origins as a key motivating factor. “Coming from Estonia, it’s been especially important for us to rely on collaboration to expand our community and the ways we can share and enjoy art.”
The pair said they “felt that New York was missing this sort of experimental approach—where galleries can afford to take risks while benefiting from the broadened networks and ideas of the international gallery community.”
Esther will be hosted at the historic Estonian House, a four-story Beaux Arts building that was an important hub for the Estonian community after World War II, located at 243 East 34th Street, New York. This inaugural edition will spotlight projects from 25 international galleries, such as Lima and Madrid–based Ginsberg + Tzu, London-based Gathering, and BANK in Shanghai, alongside local New York names like Someday Gallery and kaufmann repetto.
