Art Southampton, the acclaimed contemporary and modern art fair, drew to a close on Monday, July 11th, welcoming art aficionados and curators as well as international collectors to the grounds of Nova’s Ark Project. Upon entering the fair, guests were greeted by the Sculpture Garden designed by the award winning LaGuardia Design, in partnership with Marders. Contemporary artworks from the 20th and 21st century were showcased by more than 70 internationally renowned galleries, and impressive sales were garnered throughout the course of the fair.

On Thursday, July 7th, Art Miami Partner and Art Southampton Fair Director Nick Korniloff hosted more than 4,000 special guests for an exclusive VIP Preview Party benefitting the Parrish Art Museum and Southampton Hospital inside the massive 100,000-square-foot pavilion. As the main sponsor of Art Southampton, Christie’s International Real Estate hosted an elegant booth at the main entrance of the fair, showcasing luxury residential property offerings from around the world. Guests enjoyed drinks and cocktails provided by VOSS, Mamont Vodka, Schlumberger Sparkling Wine and O’Leary’s Chardonnay with hors d’oeuvres by the Southampton Social Club throughout the VIP Preview.

Those in attendance included: Brooke Shields, Dorothy Lichtenstein, Ruth Baum, Tony Award winning Broadway producer Stewart Lane, Bobby Flay, Kevin and Linda O’Leary, Audrey Gruss, Elayne Mordes, award-winning cartoonist Jules Feiffer, Southampton Hospital President & CEORobert Chaloner, Kevin Berlin, Randi Shatz, Parrish Art Museum Director Terrie Sultan, Hal Buckner, Christie’s International Real Estate President Dan Conn, Gary and Katherine Andreassen, Cindy Farkas, New York Academy of Art President David Kratz, Leesa Rowland and Larry Wohl, Morphew Concept’s Bridgette Morphew and Jason Lyon, Melody Mayer, Steve Bernstein, Bonnie Conley, Melanie Wambold and Michel Cox Witmer.

Academy Award winner Adrien Brody’s second series entitled Hooked drew interest from many collectors; the pieces featured colorful and vibrant fish paintings and was presented by Benrimon Projects. The New York Academy of Art exhibition, Call of the Wild, co-curated by Brooke Shieldsand Academy President David Kratz, featured stunning paintings and sculptures by academy alumni focusing on the natural world and the animal kingdom.

Shark Tank host Kevin O’Leary introduced his contemporary photography exhibition Irreconcilable Images, which was presented by Gallery Valentine and benefitted the Perry J. Cohen Foundation (www.pjcf.org) and aspiring teenage entrepreneurs.

The East End was also well represented, with work from past and present local artists including Perry Burns, Eric Fischl, Raymond Hendler, Jeff Muhs, Charlotte Park, Susan Vecsey and Esteban Vicente.