Independent 20th Century filled the newly reopened Breuer Building with bold abstractions, overlooked histories, and fitting homecomings—from Mary Grigoriadis and Elaine de Kooning to Alice Trumbull Mason.
The Independent Art Fair continues to get better with age. The sharpness with which they select galleries to participate, paired with the evolution of venues over time has been remarkable to witness over the last several years. When the Breuer Building was sold in 2023, art and architecture enthusiasts alike wondered about the public accessibility to this remarkable site. Thankfully, visitors to this year’s fall edition of Independent 20th Century have been given an opportunity to see art in this iconic space in an entirely new way.
Now entering its 5th year, Independent 20th Century welcomes 57 nominated exhibitors presenting works by more than 130 artists. There is always a unique sense of discovery at this fair, and the range of solo, duo, and group exhibitions provide a range of experiences in a compelling, historic space. Spread across several floors, there are so many incredible presentations to explore, and it is great to see how they respond to the modernist cues from the building, as well as its historical significance as the previous home of the Whitney Museum.
Whitewall picked five stand-out booths that are not to be missed at this year’s edition.
Alice Trumbull Mason at Galerie Lelong
Galerie Lelong’s presentation of works by Alice Trumbull Mason is absolutely perfect, especially as shown in the context of the Breuer Building. In 1973, the Whitney Museum presented a posthumous retrospective in the same venue, so this feels very much like a welcomed homecoming for this body of work. The gallery is showing a focused selection of works made between the late 1950s and the 1960s and highlights Mason’s exploration of geometric abstraction. At the time these paintings were made, the Minimalist art movement was still nascent, and Mason’s early explorations of space and form inspired a generation of artists grappling with new forms of artistic expression post-AbEx. This assembly reinforces her important place in the cannon, and to see her work in this Brutalist context is so revelatory. And for those who want to see more, fear not: the Gallery will host an exhibition of Mason’s work in January 2027.