NEW YORK—There’s no question that The Armory Show belongs to the band of big boys that make up the art fair circuit: Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach, and the Frieze Art Fair. It has gone through a few transformations over the years, but the show consistently and unquestionably remains one of the leading, most vital fairs in the world. But when it comes to location, I have to say, Fuhgeddaboutit! In terms of the number of collectors, galleries, critics, and artists, those other cities can’t come close to New York. Fair director Katelijne de Backer agrees.

Like our fair city, the Armory Show can be a bit overwhelming, with 160 galleries presenting work. Although down from a high of 189 galleries in 2004 (but up slightly from last year’s 150), by the time you are done walking, talking, wheeling, dealing, buying, schmoozing, and looking, you’ll be a little worn out. For this reason, ARTINFO presents this carefully selected preview of works for sale—with those all-important prices—before the fair opens. Click on the photo gallery to the left to check out our short list of artists and galleries worth special consideration.