When Mark Lyman held his first Sculpture Objects and Functional Art fair (SOFA), in 1994, just 58 galleries signed on and 14,000 people attended. “It was a test of what was to come,” says local dealer and long-standing participant Ann Nathan, whose specialties include sculpture and art furniture. In contrast, the event’s 15th-anniversary edition, taking place November 7 through 9 at the city’s Navy Pier, features 100 international dealers, four curated exhibitions and a host of educational and VIP events expected to attract about 35,000 visitors. In addition, it now has a New York spinoff, which was launched in 1998. In Chicago, Danish Galleri Udengaard’s booth is not to be missed, thanks to Lars Calmar’s ceramic sculpture Crocodile Woman, 2008, for $6,000. A highlight of New York dealer Barry Friedman’s display is Wendell Castle’s bronze Emporia Chair, 2008, from an edition of eight, priced at $90,000. “Our show is about artworks that make the transition from the decorative to the fine-arts world,” says Lyman.

"SOFA's Sweet 15" originally appeared in the November 2008 issue of Art+Auction. For a complete list of articles from this issue available on ARTINFO, see Art+Auction's November 2008 Table of Contents.