Nicole Berry, the executive director of the renowned Armory Show, is set to bid farewell to her role later this month, marking a significant transition in the fair’s leadership. Nicole Berry will soon embark on a new journey as the senior director for donor engagement at the esteemed Hammer Museum in Los Angeles.
The announcement of Berry’s departure comes as the first major shake-up following the acquisition of the Armory Show and Expo Chicago by Frieze, a prominent player in the international art fair scene. Frieze, known for staging its successful fairs in key art capitals like London, New York, Los Angeles, and Seoul, assured continuity in the leadership structure of both fairs after the acquisition was revealed last July. Simon Fox, the CEO of Frieze, emphasized the coexistence and enhancement of the Armory Show under Frieze’s stewardship.
In a letter addressed to exhibitors, Kristell Chadé, executive director of fairs at Frieze, confirmed Berry’s departure and assured that the search for a new director for the Armory Show is already underway. In the interim, Chadé, alongside Christine Messineo, Frieze’s director of Americas, will oversee the show’s operations. The closure of applications for the 2024 edition of the Armory Show this fall has already taken place, indicating the swift pace of developments within the fair.
Expressing gratitude for Berry’s invaluable contributions over the past eight years, Chadé commended her hard work and wished her success in her forthcoming endeavours. Berry’s tenure at the Armory Show began in 2016 when she assumed the role of deputy director before being promoted to executive director in 2017. Her leadership was particularly pivotal in reshaping the fair’s identity and logistics, notably orchestrating its relocation from the West Side Piers to the Javits Center and orchestrating a shift in scheduling from early March to the first week of September.
Reflecting on her time at the helm of the Armory Show, Berry underscored her commitment to continuous improvement and expressed pride in the accomplishments of the team under her guidance. She conveyed gratitude for the opportunities afforded to her and extended well wishes to the team and the broader Frieze network as they navigate significant milestones in the fair’s evolution.
Berry’s transition to the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles marks a new chapter in her career trajectory, where she will leverage her expertise in donor engagement to contribute to the museum’s mission and programming. Her departure from the Armory Show signifies both an end and a beginning, signalling changes in the art fair landscape while underscoring the enduring spirit of innovation and adaptation within the art world’s ecosystem.
As the art community bids farewell to Nicole Berry’s tenure at the Armory Show, anticipation mounts for the next phase of leadership and the continued evolution of this cornerstone event in the global art calendar.
