‘Elsewhere’ Aims to Find Out If Philadelphia Can Support an Art Fair

Philadelphia is rich in art, with numerous museums, from the encyclopedic Philadelphia Museum of Art to the collector-specific Barnes Foundation, and from the historic Rodin Museum to museums dedicated to contemporary art like the Institute of Contemporary Art. There are also historic art galleries such as Fleisher/Ollman, Locks and Tiger Strikes Asteroid.

But is the City of Brotherly Love ready for an art fair? That’s what dealer Megan Galardi, who founded the city’s Blah Blah Gallery in 2023, thinks so. She is the founder of Elsewhere, which will make its maiden voyage June 4-6 at the bustling boutique Yowie Hotel on South Street.

Galardi has seen art fairs from a dealer’s perspective, albeit on a small scale, showing at New York’s Spring Break, Future Fair and Split Level Fair. Considering that experience, she told art news In one interview, “I created a show that I wanted to attend.”

Elsewhere, 27 exhibitors came from as far afield as London, Season 4 Episode 6 and Harlesden High Street, including seven hometown dealers. In addition to Blah Blah and Fleisher/Ollman, Philly bands like 5U Space and Fjord are also on the list, as are New York bands like Uffner/Liu, Osmos and 5-50. Other dealers come from areas far from the heart of the art market, such as Cleo the Project Space (Savannah, Georgia), Dream Clinic (Columbus, Ohio), and Inland (Wapolole, Maine).

As market insiders whisper that large art fairs are struggling to fill booths, some dealers are betting on smaller fairs, often held in trendy hotels, some far from the heart of the art market, as a way to offer a different experience. the invitation-only Arrival event in the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts (a direct inspiration for Galardi); the High Desert Art Fair in California, which held its fifth edition last month; and Neighbors, which debuted in a luxury apartment in Chicago earlier this month. (Neighbors was co-founded by Jonny Tanna from Elsewhere exhibitor Harlesden High Street.)

In an uncertain market, dealers may be reluctant to invest money such as accommodation at art fairs for unknown returns, but elsewhere they can lie in their own rooms at night if needed rather than pay for separate accommodation.

Galardi noted that Philadelphia had hosted an art fair before, organized by the company behind the Hamptons Fine Arts Fair, but as a Philadelphian she thought she could offer something different, in part by gaining support from the boards and supporters of the city’s museums who might be looking for ways to engage more deeply with the arts. She said visitors often use credit cards to purchase works at her gallery for thousands of dollars, so she believes there is an audience for what she has to offer.

New York artist Josh Kline mentioned the city as a welcoming place for artists in “New York Real Estate and the Ruin of American Art,” a much-discussed article recently OctoberGalardi thought it was ready for another close-up. Celebrity artists such as Alex Da Corte and Didier William have confirmed studio tours as part of the VIP program, and Galardi noted that New York’s Darla Migan will be showcasing the work of another Philly resident (as well as a noted artist, Qualeasha Wood). Forbes 2025 30 Under 30 Honorees).

Asked by phone whether Philadelphia is ready for an art fair, Fleischer/Allman director Alex Baker said, “I think so. It’s a small fair, so it’s not overwhelming. The price point of emerging art galleries makes it the right entry point for young emerging collectors.”

Baker continued, “This is something we at the Philadelphia Gallery have been thinking about. There’s a lot of new money coming into the city, and there’s a lot of apartment development. How do we convert these people into art lovers and supporters? This could be it, this is the right fair for Philadelphia.”