SOFA 2018: Discovering New Concepts of Innovation and Design

Chicago, Illinois (November 1 - November 4, 2018) – As this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Chicago-based art fair SOFA CHICAGO, which will take place at the landmark Navy Pier, guests can expect a SOFA experience unlike any other within the fair’s history. For 12 years, SOFA’s expert design company, SPACE Productions, has crafted layouts for over 100 fairs. This year, SOFA and SPACE Productions have chosen to create a brand new floor plan, which will allow for better exhibitor booth layouts, increased visibility for signage, as well as easier walkability throughout the fair , to create a true Collector’s Getaway.

In addition to this year’s new layout, SOFA has created a dedicated VIP entrance to better serve this year’s special guests, allowing for easier and quicker admission into the fair. This entrance also creates additional opportunities for the various sponsors attending SOFA CHICAGO to engage and create dynamic activations for the VIP guests. Some of this year’s returning sponsors include Chubb Personal Risk Services and Cadillac. New additions to the sponsorship list include world-renowned Italian based stone company, Antolini, who will bring the concept of HAUTE NATURE to their show space. Along with the upgrades previously mentioned, there will be additional surprises and changes to the overall SOFA experience.  SOFA will continue with the SELECTS and CONNECT programs seen in previous years at the 2018 fair. For those who are unfamiliar with these programs, SELECTS is intended to highlight pieces chosen by noted curators, designers, critics and tastemakers, offering collectors a new way of navigating through the extraordinary artwork at the show. SELECTS also gives attendees and collectors alike the ability to find “selected” pieces with comments noted by prominent influencers, giving new insight and depth to the pieces on display.  Returning for its 6th consecutive year, the CONNECT program is a design-based competition which features works from students attending selected design schools by SOFA. This year’s schools include: University of Iowa, University of California Davis, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Columbus College of Art & Design, Virginia Tech University, and Illinois Institute of Technology. The concepts of innovation and design have always been integral to SOFA, and the CONNECT program is the perfect opportunity to highlight the next generation of talented designers. The students, universities, and guests who nurture this program play a vital role in preserving the core of SOFA.

On Thursday, November 1, ChiArts, this year’s Opening Night Benefactor, will present an evening full of experiential sculptural pieces, that will evolve throughout the duration of the fair as well as a variety of musical performances on Opening Night.