New York, January 12, 2011:  Internationally recognized for its outstanding cutting-edge contemporary decorative arts and design, the 14th International Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair (SOFA NEW YORK) will open to the public on Thursday, April 14, and continue through Sunday, April 17, 2011, at the Park Avenue Armory, it was announced by Mark Lyman, Founder/ Director of SOFA and President, The Art Fair Company.

Bernhard Schobinger Gallery S O London

SOFA NEW YORK 2011 Opening Night Preview, by invitation only, is on Wednesday, April 13, from 5:00-7:00 pm, with the vernissage open to the public from 7-9pm by ticket purchase.  Opening Night attendees may also support New York's Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) by purchasing a ticket to attend a private dinner in the Armory's Tiffany Room, which starts at 8:30pm.

	Marc Ricourt Sarah Myerscough Fine Art London
	Jennifer Trask Ornamentum Hudson, NY

"This year, SOFA NEW YORK welcomes a number of outstanding new international exhibitors," said Lyman. Making their debut are contemporary Asian specialists Korean Craft and Design Foundation (Seoul) and Ippodo Gallery (New York).  Gallery S O (London), Sarah Myerscough Fine Art (London), and Litvak Gallery (Tel Aviv) round out the fifty-five dealer roster.

Merete Rasmussen Contemporary Applied Arts London

Top dealers returning to SOFA NEW YORK include: Heller Gallery, Joan B. Mirviss Ltd., Scott Jacobson Gallery, and Dai Ichi Arts, all from New York; London gallerists Clare Beck at Adrian Sassoon, Joanna Bird, Katie Jones, and Contemporary Applied Arts; Donna Schneier Fine Arts (Palm Beach), TAI Gallery (Santa Fe), Ferrin Gallery (Pittsfield, MA), Jane Sauer Gallery (Santa Fe), Snyderman-Works  (Philadelphia), Schantz Galleries (Stockbridge, MA), and Ann Nathan Gallery (Chicago).

Art jewelry gallerists include Sienna Gallery (Lenox, MA), Ornamentum (Hudson, NY), Jewelers' Werk Galerie (Washington, DC), Charon Kransen Arts (New York), and Aaron Faber Gallery (New York).

Michael Eden Clare Beck at Adrian Sassoon, London

Expanding to three days this year, the highly popular lecture series with  internationally prominent scholars, artists, and curators will take place in the Armory's Tiffany Room on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, April 14, 15, and 16th.  In-booth artist talks at individual dealer stands are also planned.  The series includes a panel with Ann Hedlund, PhD., curator of ethnology at Arizona State Museum and professor of anthropology at University of Arizona, Grace Glueck, former New York Times art critic, and artist Archie Brennan.  Among artists scheduled to speak are: Christie Brown (Contemporary Applied Arts), Michael Eden (Clare Beck at Adrian Sassoon), Sergey Jivetin and Jennifer Trask (Ornamentum), and Geoffrey Mann (Joanna Bird).  Museum notables speaking include: Michael Petry, Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art and Curator of the Royal Academy Schools Gallery (London), and Jeannine Falino, Curator of the Museum of Art and Design (New York).

	Joost Van Bleiswijk Berengo Studio 1989 Murano, Venice

On Thursday, April 14, a designer breakfast preview and panel discussion, moderated by Greg Cerio, editor of "Modern," a Brant publication, features the highly acclaimed modernist designers Alexander Gorlin, Amy Lau, and Juan Montoya. The topic is "Contemporary Design Viewpoints: Where Do We Go From Here?"  Gorlin, Lau and Montoya are co-chairs of the SOFA National Design Committee joined by Jamie Drake, Nancy Epstein, Steven Gambrel, David Ling, and Joyce and Maya Romanoff.

Rounding out the schedule is an exclusive VIP Program for upper-level collectors and gallery clients to visit important private collections and museums.

Downloadable high-resolution press images, releases, and online press credentials form available in the SOFA NEW YORK 2011 Press Room at www.sofaexpo.com/press.

SOFA NEW YORK 2011 will open April 14 - 17th at the Park Avenue Armory, Park Ave. at 67th Street. Opening Night, Wednesday, April 13: Invitation-only 5-7pm; Public Preview 7-9pm, Tickets: $100.00. Opening Night attendees may also support New York's Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) by purchasing a ticket to attend a private dinner in the Armory's Tiffany Room beginning at 8:30pm.  To purchase dinner tickets call 212-299-7729.  Exposition hours: Thursday, April 14: 11am-7pm; Friday, April 15: 11am-6pm; Saturday, April 16: 11am-7pm; and Sunday, April 17: Noon-6pm.

Tickets are $25 for a single day of general admission and $40 for a four-day pass; both include catalog.  For general information, visit www.sofaexpo.com; call 800-563-SOFA (7632) or 312-587-7632; or email info@sofaexpo.com.