Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design
{{Short description|Art fairs held in the United States}}
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Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design (SOFA), originally known as Sculpture Objects Functional Art Exposition, was a series of art fairs held from 1994 to 2022 in Chicago (SOFA Chicago), and a smaller version in New York City (SOFA New York) from 1998 to 2012. The fairs were also known as Sculpture Objects and Functional Art Fair, International Exposition of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art, International Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair, International Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design, and for two years as Intersect Chicago. SOFA West was held from 2009 to 2011 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The founding director was Mark Lyman.
History
=Foundation=
The founding director of both SOFA Chicago and SOFA New York was Mark Lyman, who remained as director until at least 2012. Lyman was also president of the Art Fair Company, which produced many art fairs in the United States.{{cite web | title=SOFA CHICAGO 2010, November 5-7, Chicago's Navy Pier | website=SOFA Expo | date=8 October 2010 | url=http://sofaexpo.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128045103/http://sofaexpo.com/ | archive-date=28 November 2010 | url-status=dead | access-date=7 May 2025}}
=Chicago=
The inaugural Sculpture Objects Functional Art Exposition in Chicago (SOFA Chicago){{cite web | title=Exposition of Sculpture Objects Functional Art | website=SOFA Expo| date=28 January 1999 | url=http://www.sofaexpo.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990302073233/http://www.sofaexpo.com/ | archive-date=2 March 1999 | url-status=dead | access-date=7 May 2025}} was held in 1994 at Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, with 58 exhibitors and 14,000 attendees. In 1995 the fair moved to Navy Pier. In 2002, at the Ninth Annual International Exposition of Sculpture Objects & Functional Art: SOFA Chicago 2002, it was reported that the British were leading an increased international presence at the expositions.{{cite web | title=Sculpture, Objects and Functional Art Exposition Chicago and New York | website=SOFA Expo | date=2 August 2002 | url=http://www.sofaexpo.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020928114327/http://www.sofaexpo.com/ | archive-date=28 September 2002 | url-status=dead | access-date=7 May 2025}} In 2008, international galleries exhibited work by established artists such as Italian glass artists Lino Tagliapietra and Lucio Bubacco, along with American artists including Dale Chihuly, Ruth Duckworth, and Lenore Tawney. Emerging artists were also represented, as well as museum curators, art advisors, and collectors. A record 35,000 people attended the 2007 Chicago event.
In 2010, Art Fair Company staged the Intuit Show of Folk and Outsider Art alongside the 17th Annual International Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair (SOFA Chicago). In that year, it was the longest continually running art fair, and featured work from 80 art galleries and hosted art dealers from 10 countries. It hosted the two fairs again in 2011.{{cite web | title=SOFA CHICAGO 2011 International Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair | website=Fine Art Publicity | date=31 August 2011 | url=https://fineartpublicity.com/2011/08/31/sofa-chicago-2011-international-sculpture-objects-functional-art-fair/ | access-date=7 May 2025}}
In 2012 SOFA Chicago celebrated the 50th anniversary of the studio glass movement, with major international galleries presenting work by both historic and emerging glass artists.{{cite web | title=2012 SOFA Chicago Marks 50th Anniversary of Studio Glass Movement | website=Handmade Business | date=12 September 2012 | url=https://handmade-business.com/2012-sofa-chicago-marks-50th-anniversary-of-studio-glass-movement/ | access-date=7 May 2025}}
By the time SOFA Chicago celebrated its 20th anniversary in October-November 2013, the event was branded "Sculpture Objects Functional Art + Design".{{cite web | title=Opening Night Oct. 31 and continuing Nov. 1 | website=SOFA Expo | date=26 May 2013 | url=http://www.sofaexpo.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812024618/http://www.sofaexpo.com/ | archive-date=12 August 2013 | url-status=dead | access-date=7 May 2025}} By 2019 its visitors numbered 35,000 over four days.
After the October-November 2019 SOFA Chicago, the event was bought by Intersect Art and Design, and rebranded Intersect Chicago. {{cite web | title=Intersect Chicago | website=Artfairmag | date=11 July 2024 | url=https://www.artfairmag.com/sofa-chicago/ | access-date=7 May 2025}} Intersect Chicago was run online in November 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each day featured a special focus, including: Glass, Contemporary Art, Ceramic and Craft, Design, Outsider Art, Fiber Art, and Public Art / Sculpture.{{cite web | title=Intersect Chicago: the future of SOFA | website=SOFA Expo | date=18 September 2020 | url=https://www.sofaexpo.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101022844/https://www.sofaexpo.com/ | archive-date=1 November 2020 | url-status=dead | access-date=7 May 2025}} An in-person event was held in 2021.{{cite web | title=Intersect Chicago: the future of SOFA | website=intersectchicago.com | date=10 June 2021 | url=https://intersectchicago.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814183649/https://intersectchicago.com/ | archive-date=14 August 2021 | url-status=dead | access-date=7 May 2025}} In 2022, it was renamed back to SOFA Chicago (Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design), "owned and managed by vGMgt LLC, producers of Intersect Art and Design Fairs",{{cite web | title=SOFA Chicago | website=SOFA Chicago | date=28 April 2022 | url=https://sofaexpo.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605081145/https://sofaexpo.com/ | archive-date=5 June 2022 | url-status=dead | access-date=7 May 2025}} but that appears to be its last edition.{{cite web | title=Home | website=SOFA Chicago | date=10 June 2023 | url=https://sofaexpo.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714092018/https://sofaexpo.com/ | archive-date=14 July 2023 | url-status=dead | access-date=7 May 2025}}
=New York=
The inaugural Sculpture Objects Functional Art Exposition in New York (SOFA New York) was held in 1998 in the Seventh Regiment Armory.{{cite web | title=Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Expositions: Chicago and New York | website=SOFA Expo | date=25 December 2006 | url=http://www.sofaexpo.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202031143/http://www.sofaexpo.com/ | archive-date=2 February 2007 | url-status=dead | access-date=7 May 2025| quote=SOFA NEW YORK 2007, the Annual International Exposition of Sculpture Objects & Functional Art, celebrates its tenth year at the Seventh Regiment Armory, Park Ave. at 67th, June 1 – 3}} The Fourth Annual International Exposition of Sculpture Objects & Functional Art: SOFA New York, was held in 2001.{{cite web | title=Sculpture, Objects and Functional Art Exposition Chicago and New York | website=SOFA Expo | date=1 February 2001 | url=http://www.sofaexpo.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010331144416/http://www.sofaexpo.com/ | archive-date=31 March 2001 | url-status=dead | access-date=7 May 2025}}
In 2011, a special dinner was held on the preview night of SOFA New York at the Museum of Arts and Design to honor art collector and patron Judy Cornfeld.{{cite web | title=SOFA New York | website=Museum of Arts and Design | date=13 April 2011 | url=https://madmuseum.org/events/sofa-new-york | access-date=7 May 2025}}
The last SOFA New York was held in April 2012, after rents were hiked and it became uneconomical to run the fair.{{cite web | last=Boucher | first=Brian | title=SOFA New York Folds, SOFA Chicago Lives On | website=ARTnews.com | date=18 October 2012 | url=https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/features/sofa-new-york-folds-57873/ | access-date=7 May 2025}}
=Santa Fe=
The inaugural SOFA West was held in 2009 at the Santa Fe Convention Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This series, held in August, was supported by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation. The third event was held in 2011.{{cite web | title=SOFA WEST: Santa Fe + Intuit Show of Folk and Outsider Art | website=SOFA Expo | date=30 April 2011 | url=http://sofaexpo.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613071809/http://sofaexpo.com/ | archive-date=13 June 2011 | url-status=dead | access-date=7 May 2025}}{{cite web | title=SOFA's 3rd annual western edition returns to Santa Fe this August | website=MutualArt | date=7 May 2025 | url=https://www.mutualart.com/Article/SOFAs-3rd-annual-western-edition-returns/172230ACB90E40DC | access-date=7 May 2025}} but the show planned for August 2012 was cancelled in May of that year for economic reasons.{{cite web| first=Anne |last=Constable | title=SOFA West cancels 2012 show amid 'difficult' art economy | website=Santa Fe New Mexican | date=May 20, 2012 | url=https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/sofa-west-cancels-2012-show-amid-difficult-art-economy/article_dfeae8c2-d7b5-5150-99b1-b9d3b3d5577f.html | access-date=7 May 2025}}
Description
SOFA art fairs focused on only three-dimensional works{{cite web | title=About SOFA | website=SOFA Expo | date=14 August 2018 | url=http://www.sofaexpo.com/about-sofa | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122152720/http://www.sofaexpo.com/about-sofa | archive-date=22 January 2019 | url-status=dead | access-date=7 May 2025}} "that cross the boundaries of fine art, decorative art, and design".{{cite web | title=SOFA CHICAGO | website=Artsy | date= | url=https://www.artsy.net/fair-organizer/sofa-chicago | access-date=7 May 2025}}
The fairs staged special exhibits by renowned museums, universities, and arts organizations, and held lecture series and special events.
SOFA Chicago was held in the Festival Hall on the historic Navy Pier for most of its existence, usually being held in November.{{cite web | title=November 6-9, 2008 at Chicago's Navy Pier | website=SOFA Expo | date=11 August 2008 | url=http://www.sofaexpo.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912120216/http://www.sofaexpo.com/ | archive-date=12 September 2008 | url-status=dead | access-date=7 May 2025| quote=The first SOFA CHICAGO Fair debuted at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in 1994, with 58 exhibitors and 14,000 people attending. In 1995, SOFA CHICAGO moved to Festival Hall at Chicago's historic Navy Pier. Since then, this pioneering fair has grown steadily in the number of exhibitors, averaging approximately 100 galleries and dealers in recent years, and attendance has increased more than 100 percent. A record 35,000 people attended SOFA CHICAGO in 2007... }}
SOFA New York was a smaller fair, averaging around 40 dealers. It was held at the Seventh Regiment Armory on the corner of Park Avenue and 67th Street, and was usually held in June.{{cite web | last=Workman | first=Michael | title=Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Exposition Chicago and New York | website=SOFA Expo | date=31 May 2005 | url=http://www.sofaexpo.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050701001458/http://www.sofaexpo.com/ | archive-date=1 July 2005 | url-status=dead | access-date=7 May 2025}}
References
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External links
- {{youtube|hmeEgqEo1tw|SOFA Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair New York 2012}}