Nicole Berry is leaving her position as executive director of the Armory Show, after running the New York fair for the past eight years. Prior to taking the helm, she was deputy director for one year at the show.
Berry is moving on to a new role at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, as senior director of donor engagement.
The news was shared in an email to fair exhibitors this morning from Kristell Chadé, Frieze’s executive director of fairs. The announcement comes just seven months after the Armory Show and Expo Chicago were acquired by the Frieze Art Fair in an effort to further expand its presence in the U.S., amid increasing consolidation in the fair industry.
“We thank her for all her hard work, which leaves us in good shape for the upcoming 2024 edition of the fair,” Chadé wrote.
“Since becoming executive director of the Armory Show, it has been my mission to improve the fair with each edition,” said in the email. “I am deeply proud of the accomplishments of our team and am grateful for the opportunities I have been provided.”
Industry insiders have been curious about what changes Frieze will make to both the Armory Show and the New York edition of its flagship fair, which occurs a few months before the Armory each May at the Shed at Hudson Yards. For the last few years, the Armory Show has been held at the nearby Javits Center in September, after structural problems at its longtime home at cruise ship piers near West 55th Street forced it to seek a new home.
The email to dealers said: “The Armory Show continues to be managed by its excellent dedicated team and the recruitment of a new director for the Armory Show is already underway. In the interim, the team will be led by myself and director of Americas, Christine Messineo. We will ensure a smooth transition for all.”
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