Known for its connection to the space industry, its rich food scene, and its cultural offerings, Houston now has its own major art fair. On September 18th, Untitled Art, Houston opened its inaugural edition, hosting some 88 galleries at the downtown George R. Brown Convention Center.
For its director, Michael Slenske, the decision to launch the fair was a long time coming for those aware of the city's underrated cultural clout.
"I get asked this question a lot: 'Why Houston?'" Slenske told Artsy. "I'm asked, 'Why not an art capital?' You don't know what you're talking about if you don't think this is an art capital." He pointed to the city's dense network of institutions, from the Menil Collection to the University of Houston's School of Art and Public Art MFA program, as evidence of its cultural strength. The program, which is featured at Booth A53, is displaying student work throughout the fair.
This is Untitled Art's first new venture since the firm was acquired last year by the luxury lifestyle portfolio South Florida Ventures. Founded in 2012 by Jeff Lawson, Untitled Art has staged an annual fair directly on the sands of Miami Beach during the city's December art week. From the start, it sought to distinguish itself from the megafair model by presenting a more focused, curatorial approach.