Altitude Adjustment: Notes from Aspen Art Week
You might not think of Aspen as an art mecca. I didn’t either. But I was wrong—spectacularly wrong. I went because l Intersect Aspen invited me. But I’ll be back because I was blown away by the level, the quality, the sheer oomph of it all.
Blue-chip work, emerging voices, smart programming, and actual conversations that didn’t make me want to fake a phone call. Who knew the mountains could host a fair this sharp and this friendly? I came for the art, stayed for the altitude-induced optimism, and left wondering if fresh air is the secret ingredient missing from most art weeks.
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Aspen Art Museum Sherrie Levine
This museum punches well above its weight—and its location. I’ve heard about its shows for years, and now I understand why. The Levine exhibition was blue chip: sharp, rigorous, and surprisingly intimate. I would’ve welcomed a bit more curatorial framing—particularly around her appropriations of Egon Schiele and Walker Evans—but the work more than held its ground. Seeing pieces I’d only read about for decades (those vintage children’s shoes!) alongside her gridded paintings was quietly electrifying.
Art Crush Auction at Aspen Art Museum
A remarkable group of pieces collected to auction off on Friday to support the Musuem. Rare domestic scale pieces from George Condo and Glenn Ligon. I swooned. Definitely crushable.
Anderson Ranch
This remarkable artists oasis is like nothing else. Anderson Ranch hums with the quiet intensity of making—a space where artists wrestle with form and thought in equal measure. It’s not just a place to create, but a crucible for ideas, raw and refined, nestled in the hush of the Colorado mountains. And superstars Mickalene Thomas and Catheine Opie are currently in residences so there’s more swooning to do here too.
Intersect Aspen
Despite the chill from the ice rink below, this fair radiates warmth—a welcoming, open space for discovering artists and gallery programs. Run by the ever-committed Brothers von Gal, there’s real heart behind the curation, and plenty to uncover if you’re willing to look (as with any fair, the gems reward the search). From finally seeing an Edward Curtis print I’ve dreamed of since my early 20s to discovering Nadia Aaron’s quietly powerful sculptures, it was a genuine thrill to be there.
Tristan Hoare at Aspen Art Fair
I struggled to get into the fair - a story for another time - but was thrilled to see fellow Londoner Tristan up in these parts. His booth featured striking works by Sydney Albertini, confidently reclaiming and elevating women’s craft. Boldly graphic from a distance and tenderly naive up close, the pieces had a quiet emotional pull that stayed with me. What moved me most was seeing them later in a collector’s home, perched at the very end of a dirt road, on the farthest edge of the grid—proof that serious art is alive and well in the most remote corners of these hills.
Libertine Pop Up at The Jerome
I wouldn’t normally feature a clothing brand during an art week—nor do I make a habit of shopping while on the proverbial clock (who has the time?). But after meeting the Libertine crew at a Cultured dinner, I had to swing by their pop-up. And my god, I’m glad I did. Founder and creative director Johnson Hartig is, without question, an artist. Each piece feels bespoke—because, in many cases, it is. Part wearable sculpture, part irreverent fashion statement, the work is seductive in the best possible way. I didn’t stand a chance.
Perrotin at Aspen Art Fair
I have a little thing for these Gregor Hildebrandt cassette tape portraits. I saw them first in Miami Basel and was drawn to the nostalgia of the cassette tape but left them there as a one liner. But here - as paired with his stacked totem - I got to thinking about found objects ready mades, waste, Louise Bourgeois and art history.
❤️ Aspen Art Community ❤️(and the wider art community who showed up)
I don’t know if there’s something in the water up here—or maybe it’s just the altitude—but the vibe is next level lovely. From locals like Sue Hostetler and Natasha Riboud throwing celebratory bashes for Maryam Eisler and Alexei Riboud’s West West, to epic, freewheeling conversations with new friends over supper, there’s a rare openness in the air. People—myself included—seemed more expansive, more willing to talk about the big-picture stuff. I had one (and I mean one) snobby art world run-in, which is practically a miracle during an art week. Maybe the altitude chokes out some of the usual nonsense? Either way, Aspen’s officially on my annual fair calendar. Not to be missed.