Showcasing works from 93 galleries across 21 countries, the 17th annual Dallas Art Fair opened its doors for a VIP preview on Thursday. And it was just in time. After last week’s roller-coaster ride on Wall Street, the annual event proved to be a most welcome respite.

This year I toured the art fair with local artist and fashion designer Geoffrey Henning.

Our overall takeaway? Bold, joyful, unapologetic color stole the show
“There was a naïve moment to it all,” said Henning. “I found myself drawn to pieces with looser, less rigid strokes. It was all about blending, blurring, and bright, happy hues.”

Joyful color provided a much-needed escape. Ruben Tanzi (right)

Case in point: Paul Jenkins’ Phenomena Place of the Crucible (above). Ruben Tanzi with London-based Rochini Gallery explained the artist’s technique: pouring paint directly onto the canvas, then tilting it so the color dripped, bled, and pooled into fluid washes resembling ceramic glazes.

Another artist who caught Henning’s designer eye was James Benjamin Franklin, who used fabric as a base for his multi-hued works. Layers of resin, sand, and textiles evoked organic landscapes, according to LSC Gallery’s senior director, Tara Akitt.

James Benjamin Franklin’s fabric-based works meld art and fashion. (Dallas Art Fair)

“The paintings had a really interesting depth to them,” said Henning.

‘It was a clever change from the flatness of a regular canvas — the perfect marriage of fashion and art’
We also stopped at the Los Angeles-based Anat Ebgi Gallery booth to admire Tina Girouard’s stunning Pink Floral (Lillypad). Turns out, we were in good company. The standout piece, featuring sequins and beads on fabric, was one of seven selected to join the DMA’s permanent collection as part of the Dallas Art Fair Foundation Acquisition Program.

Since its inception in 2016, the Acquisition Program has proudly supported a dynamic range of artists and their galleries including Tina Girouard’s Pink Floral.
Marlon Wobst’s Desert Moon — a felted, textured tapestry — was another standout. The artist’s colorful, large-scale pieces offer a glimpse into human experiences, rituals, and habits.

Its placement in the Galleri Urbane booth, one of the many local exhibitors, proved serendipitous. “We happened to have a window in our space — the perfect spot for a piece of that size,” shared owner Ree Willaford.

Dallas gallerist Ree Willaford found the perfect spot for artist Marlon Wobst’s Desert Moon.
As in past years, Texas galleries are strongly represented. This year’s roster includes Colector (with locations in Dallas, Houston, and Monterrey, Mexico), as well as Dallas-based Conduit Gallery, Cris Worley Fine Arts, Erin Cluley Gallery, Nature of Things, Pencil on Paper Gallery, Sputnik Modern, Valley House Gallery, and Fort Worth’s William Campbell Gallery.

It’s yet to be seen whether the current economic climate will impact sales
“On the one hand, I’m really excited, but on the other hand, there’s a lot of uncertainty, so there’s anxiety,” Dallas gallery owner Cris Worley told online art marketplace Artsy. Ultimately, “you have to be optimistic when you know what your mission is, which is to support the artists and bring their message forward.”

Hignite Projects founder Sara Hignite and Dallas Art Fair director Kelly Cornell with Dallas-based artist Celia Eberle’s work at Cris Worley Fine Art’s booth. (Dallas Art Fair)
The good news: Just two hours into the preview, hometown artist Celia Eberle’s visceral paper wall sculptures — each priced under $1,000 — had all sold. And at Pencil on Paper, owner Dr. Valerie Bennett reported that several of Jessica Vollrath’s portraits had fetched prices in the mid-four-figure range.

Above, one of Jessica Vollrath’s lyrical family portraits. (Dallas Art Fair)
“Every year, it is our mission to facilitate discovery and curiosity, to foster genuine connections between exhibitors and collectors,” said Dallas Art Fair Executive Director Kelly Cornell. “We owe our continued success to the caliber of every gallery’s presentation and to the passion and energy of our city’s art lovers.”

The Dallas Art Fair is located at the Fashion Industry Gallery, 1807 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75201. The cost of one-day general admission is $36. Hours this Sunday, April 13, are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.