When two of Vienna's major art fairs suddenly hit the cancel button, leaving a gaping, art-shaped hole in the city's cultural calendar, what's a gallery to do? Apparently, get together, roll up their sleeves, and launch a brand new one.
Introducing the Astoria Artshow: a collective act of defiance and creativity from 35 local galleries, set to debut this September. Because apparently, the show must go on, even if you have to build it yourself.
The Astoria Artshow will take over the historic Astoria Garage from September 10–13. This isn't just any old parking structure; it's a six-story architectural gem from 1923, located in Vienna's 8th District. And yes, this will be its grand debut as an art venue. Imagine the fumes of old engines replaced with the scent of fresh paint and ambition.
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Start Your News DetoxThis initial run will feature around 70 galleries, a mix of Austrian and international players, all setting the stage for a much larger, more official art fair slated for 2027. So, consider this the highly anticipated pilot episode.
The whole operation is spearheaded by VAU – Vienna Art United, a board packed with heavy hitters from Vienna's gallery scene, including Markus Peichl of Galerie Crone Wien and Thomas Krinzinger from Galerie Krinzinger. They've even wrangled funding from the City of Vienna and the Federal Ministry for Housing, Art, Culture, Media and Sport. Because when the local art scene needs you, apparently the government steps up.
Art, But Make It Fair
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Astoria Artshow is its "solidarity participation model." Forget paying for square footage; here, gallery fees are based on revenue and size. It's an approach designed to make participation sustainable and fair, ensuring smaller or less established galleries don't get priced out. It's like a sliding scale for modern art, which, if you think about it, is both practical and a bit revolutionary for the art world.
This whole endeavor was sparked by the sudden demise of Vienna Contemporary's 2026 edition due to financial woes, and Spark Art Fair Vienna's March cancellation (though Spark plans a 2027 return, so they're not entirely out). VAU rallied support from 107 artists, including luminaries like Renate Bertlmann and Eva Schlegel, to fill this void.
Markus Peichl sums it up: the goal is to blend top-tier international quality with an open, collective, and forward-thinking format. Essentially, uniting Austria's gallery might and creating a fair that gets the world's attention. Because sometimes, when one door closes, 35 galleries kick down a new one.
