Ahh Springtime!
It brings cherry blossoms, beautiful weather, and one of my favorite events of the year:
AIPAD or the Association of International Photographic Art Dealers, gather photo dealers from around the world exhibiting, and yes selling, some of the finest vintage and contemporary work. It runs from April 23 – 27 and is situated at the  Park Avenue Armory 643 Park Avenue, New York, NY. 

I have to mention that this year the solid amount of photo booksellers are in a concentrated area within the full mix of the galleries,
Not only will you be seeing some incredible work, you can also take home unique, and classic books.

Returning to the iconic Park Avenue Armory, you are greeted by this image as you enter.

On an initial walk through, I have always believed in my gut reactions to the work.

                                                                                                                                                    © Jan C. Schlegel

This year, Jan C. Schlegel, was a standout with his series: Of Aliens, Mermaids & Medusas
Photographing underwater life forms, using Polaroid P/N film, and platinum printing, he has created a world of beauty with a passion that came through in a brief discussion with him. Represented by Echo Fine Arts, based in Cannes, France
Made with patience, and extreme craft, his emotional images will fascinate you.

© Jan C. Schlegel

“I needed to understand why I see the world the way I do, what is important to me, what fascinates me, where I find inspiration, what I want to show the world, and why… I realized that photography or taking pictures is not my goal, it is simply a tool. I don’t want to just create photographs, I want to create feelings, emotions. I want to impact the viewer. That is much more meaningful and needed today. ”
Jan C. Schlegel

© Jan C. Schlegel

Then we have James Barnor, from Ghana.

© James Barnor

With a recent interest in South African photographers, Mr. Garnor appears to be the father of the category.
What drew me to his work, is not only the breadth of subjects, but his approachable style steeped in reality.
At 96 he is still working with his archives .
Stop by and see the Self Portrait, above, and if you look closely, you can see him making the photo in a mirror and the woman in the photo is actually between him and the mirror.
It was such a striking photo that AIPAD made it into one of banners in front of the Armory.

© James Barnor

He is represented by Galerie Clementine DeLa Feronniere

At the JDC Gallery, Luis González Palma is a standout with his Mobius series.

Using a photo from his archive, he reimagines it , printing on felt, and integrating strategically placed red thread as a connective element

©Luis González Palma

About Möbius series, from Jennifer DeCarlo Director  JDC Fine Art:

González Palma’s Möbius studies began in 2013. The series is open and plural. It delves into other ways of creating and understanding photography. Various methods of aesthetic perception are employed to create new implications. The artist began this dialogue by juxtaposing geometric abstraction and his own photographic archive. Portraits from early to recent work reappear but are reimagined. They now incorporate geometric forms rendered over them in acrylic paint or gold leaf. Some works are sculptural and are printed on felt. Expansive and symbolic, the stories generated by these combinations explore the boundaries between photography and painting, emotion and reason, aesthetics and politics.

There are 78 galleries represented here, and numerous book sellers with a full range of classic books, to limited edition, self published works.

In a 4 day art fair, you should take the time to deep dive, attend the various talks on photography, and enjoy random conversations with the people who share your passion and love of photography.

And who puts this all together with an incredible team? Executive Director Lydia Melamed Johnson. Under her guidance, AIPAD has continued it’s proper place in the photo art fairs in the world

More images from the show:

more to come……