In 2007, New York’s Armory Show relocated to the hangar-like Pier 94—drawing 52,000 visitors who spent $85 million—but it lost momentum. “A number of cornerstone participants dropped out,” says art adviser Allan Schwartzman. Since then, Chicago-based Merchandise Mart has taken over the event, which runs March 27 through 30. As in past years, more than half of the 160 exhibitors hail from Europe, with New York dealers accounting for one–third of the participants—no Russian or Chinese galleries have been added to the roster. Los Angeles dealer Marc Foxx, also on the selection committee, is exhibiting sculptures by fellow Angeleno Evan Holloway, by found-materials artist Jason Meadows and by the recently discovered German-born Sterling Ruby, who is now based in L.A. Cape Town dealer Michael Stevenson is showing Benin-born Meschac Gaba?s wig sculptures, inspired by South African landmarks and priced at around $18,000 each. New York’s Harris Lieberman gallery is displaying an ink drawing depicting Spider Man battling Nazis by the Mexican artist Daniel Guzmán, who is the subject of a don’t-miss show at the New Museum in New York next month.

"New Pier Group" originally appeared in the March 2008 issue of Art+Auction. For a complete list of articles from this issue available on ARTINFO, see Art+Auction's March 2008 Table of Contents.