OUTSIDER ART FAIR ANNOUNCES NEW OWNER AND VENUE

Wide Open Arts, LLC. and Sanford L. Smith and Associates, LLC. are pleased to announce new ownership of the Outsider Art Fair, the leading, annual event in the field of Outsider, Self-Taught and Folk Art. The 21st edition of the fair will take place in a new location, at 548 West 22nd Street in Chelsea, the former home of the Dia Art Foundation. Show dates are January 31 - February 3, 2013.

Founded by Sandy Smith in 1993, the Outsider Art Fair soon became a critical and commercial success. Recognized for its maverick spirit, the fair played a vital role in building a passionate collecting community as crowds flocked annually to New York's Puck Building, the event's original site during its first 15 years.

Under Wide Open Arts, a new company formed by art dealer Andrew Edlin, the Outsider Art Fair will continue to provide a dynamic atmosphere for dealers to showcase compelling and unusual artworks. The 2013 fair will also add new elements, including the sponsorship of guest curatorial projects and other special events. Visitors to the fair can expect to find prime examples of works by both legendary and newly discovered artists.

Notes Sandy Smith: "I'm excited to see this important fair continue in a new, expansive direction while still remaining true to its origins. I'm fully supportive of Wide Open Arts and I have no doubt that its team has both the skill and knowledge to produce an exciting fair that will attract talent and be profitable for its participating dealers."

For more information please contact outsiderartfair@gmail.com