Rob Fields

#latergram. Last week I published my first op-ed of 2026 in @hyperallergic . In this piece I gamed out what a possible future of the US art market might be if and when new entry requirements for foreign visitors take effect. What does any reasonable person expect will happen if this government makes entry into the country too onerous? Folks will simply take their business elsewhere. Here’s what I wrote: "The countries whose citizens would be subject to these new requirements [namely the UK, France, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Japan, and South Korea] collectively [include countries that] represent 34% of global sales. These are the collectors, gallerists, curators, scholars, and artists who animate the ecosystem. They’re not peripheral. They’re essential. "If entering the United States suddenly requires surrendering your digital life and your family’s private information, how long before people simply choose not to come?" Galleries, artists, museums, and art fairs all count on the easy cross-border flow of everyone involved in the art ecosystem. Folks will go where it’s easy to do business. As my dad used to say, no one monkey stops the show. Yes, we’re the United States. For now. But if we continue in this direction, that’s not going to mean much soon. The rest of the world will only put up with our government’s relationship-breaking behavior for so long. After that, we’ll need to get used to being isolated. The comment period ends on February 9. Notably, the administration is only asking for comments on the technical aspects of the regulation, not the larger implications of it. Big shout-out to @hakimbishara and @laxmiamin17 for sheparding this piece through. Linkinbio, y’all. #artadvisor #contemporaryart #artmarket #opinion

Every year, I read the Artprice Contemporary Art Market Report not just for the numbers, but for the signals — those subtle shifts that show where culture, value, and collector behavior are actually converging. The data tell one story; the context tells another. For those of us who’ve been tracking the rise of artists from the African diaspora and Global South, this year’s report confirms something we’ve felt intuitively: the market is maturing, and the balance of power is widening. Collectors are getting smarter, institutions are catching up, and the next wave of opportunity is already taking shape. The 7 slides highlight some of my takeaways. You can also read the full breakdown on Substack via the linkinbio. #artadvisor #artmarket #africandiaspora #africandiasporaart #globalsouth #contemporaryart #painting #textile

Seen in and around some of the many fairs of this year’s May Art Week: 1) @robertpruitt at @vielmetter at @independent_hq 2) @theantoniodarden at @gallerykendrajaynepatrick (also at @independent_hq ) 3) @helina.metaferia at @praise.shadows.art 4) @ Charisse Pearlina Weston at @jackshainman 5) @virtualtai at @kraupatuskanyzeidler 6) @chakaiabooker at @davidnolangallery At @newartdealers : 7) @griseldarosasss at @luisdejesuslosangeles 8) @cylewarner at @forgottenlands.art At @154artfair : 9-9a) @sophiabounou at @_blondcontemp 10-11) @alphabet_party and @damiendavis at @katesferriprojects 12) @kendrafrorup at @the.current.art 13) @jason_ayer_bennett at @blackponygallery Non-fair sightings: 14) @marthajacksonjarvis at @susaninglettgallery 15-16) @sanfordbiggers and @danielle_mckinney_ at @marianneboeskygallery 17) @jaemelo at @mcbride_dillman #artadvisor #contemporaryart #nyartweek #GoSeeArt #MightyRecommended

So the May Art Week starts today and I find myself waaaay behind on posting about any of the incredible shows I’ve seen over the last month. So before I get swamped with new pics on my phone, here are some of the art and artists I’ve seen over the last couple of months. Yeah, it’s just good to be back outside. 1-3) @lindsaybriadams at @seankellygallery , which runs through May 30 4-6) @jeffreymeris , whose solo show at @francoisghebaly closed at the end of April 7-10) Great to see @mvtemba and fellow @carnegiemellon alum and artist @artbynkechi at the opening of @southernguildgallery ’s NY gallery. The duo show of @ushaseejarim and @mmangalisonzuza runs through May 17. 11) @guystanleyphiloche at his solo show at @gallerygpg through June 13. 12-18) A quick run through the recent @conductorartfair in BK with work by @pyaari_azaadi ; @digitaldannybaez ’s @regularnormalnyc showing work by @bananowintour ; Ebony G. Patterson; @purvairai and @lisuvega at the @gladwellprojects booth; and @workdaily ’s cyanotype-based work 19) A very quick studio visit with @garryfgrant That kinda-sorta catches me up, y’all! Whew! #artadvisor #contemporaryart #nycgallery #GoSeeArt #explorepage

Imagine your “passion project” as a judge being to dismantle the Voting Rights Act. And you’ve been working towards this for 40 years. Good job, “Chief Justice” Roberts: You’ve proven yourself to be a despicable, execrable human being. ——- Repost @motherjonesmag The recent Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais that effectively killed the last remaining provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was authored by Justice Samuel Alito. But it represents the life’s work of Chief Justice John Roberts. The Roberts Court has now gutted the Voting Rights Act on three different occasions, and Roberts wrote or joined every one of those opinions. And that’s not an accident. Roberts has been trying to kill the Voting Rights Act for more than 40 years, and it looks like he’s finally succeeded. Watch our new video to understand how Roberts has steadily worked to destroy the VRA and what can be done to fight back:#race #politics #voting #democracy

On point. Ht @agirlhasnopresident —— Repost @trayfour We don’t need opinions to prove racism exists in America — the numbers already told the story. ➡️ Black families hold 6–7x less wealth than white families. ➡️ Black Americans are incarcerated at 5x the rate. ➡️ We are 2.5–3x more likely to be killed by police. ➡️ Black workers earn 75–80 cents on the dollar. And even today, we are shown fewer homes and offered worse loans for the same dream. Racism isn’t just a hood anymore — it hides in systems, policies, and outcomes. You can ignore it. You can debate it. But you can’t deny it. Racism is Costing America Everything. The racists will be the ones in the comments arguing-smile and wave at them!

This past Tuesday I joined my colleagues @stylecurator @micaelagiovannotti @dulcinaabreu @suestoffelarts and @bswarts2 as part of the curatorial team for the @housingworks gala. It was my second year in a row of involvement. And I’m happy to report that this year’s art auction grossed the highest since HW started incorporating an auction into its gala. Overall, the gala raised $1 million for Housing Works and the critical work it’s doing. Thanks to all the artists who graciously donated work, and congrats to the great @nariward , @csiriano , and @niffyfoyle on their 2026 Groundbreaker Awards! Next year, y’all? #artadvisor #contemporaryart #artauction #fundraiser #gala

I am now the proud owner of a @voigtlander_offiziell 35mm/1.2. I’ve had my eye on this lens for a while, and it probably wont be leaving my camera for a long time. Thank you, @bridgett_d , for this wonderful birthday gift! 😘 Can’t wait to really put this lens through its paces beyond the shot of @zelda_fields_love . #photography #voigtlander #voigtlander35mmf1_2 #lenses

I’m proud and honored to say that for the second year in a row, I’m one of the Art Curators for this year’s @housingworks gala, along with @dulcinaabreu , @micaelagiovannotti , @stylecurator , @suestoffelarts , and @bswarts2 . Together, we got 55 pieces of art donated for the silent auction from an incredible range of artists including @derrickadamsny , @artistgeorgecondo , and @patrickmcmullan , to name only a few. I’m particularly excited about the artists who trusted me enough to donate work, including @adrienne__elise , @aristotles_abstractions_ , @debracartwright , @kingdavidthalion , and @kandyglopez . Other artists worth checking out in the auction include @damiendavis , @soloexhibit , @alphabet_party , @emilioperezart , @cecilestudio , @kim_bo915 , @marvintoure , @c.j.chueca , and @shirin.abedinirad . Be in the room on Tuesday, April 14th to bid on a beautiful @nariward quadtych. Link in bio to view all the works in the silent auction and to buy tickets to support this organization that’s doing life-saving work. #artadvisor #contemporaryart #artauction #fundraiser

Last week, 123 countries passed a resolution in the United Nations that " labels the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement as the gravest crime against humanity," per @ibtimes_usa . That was historic. And this reel providers important context. Ht @gwendolynquinnofficial ------ Repost via @ashleytheebarroness I’m glad they said it. I am. But the ones that couldn’t even bring themselves to say it? …yeah. that’s doing something to me. #fyp #ashleytheebarroness #blackhistory365 #history #crime

Sorry that I’ve been slow to post the art I’ve seen. If these shows are still up, I’ll note that below. All are worth seeing. 1) @rdeborah191 at @flagartfoundation through April 25. It’s always a treat to see Roberts and her beautiful explorations of Black childhood. 2) @yashuared at @sikkemamalloyjenkins Malloy just closed yesterday. But, you can catch @wardell_milan ’s new exhibit starting on March 27. 3-5) If you’re gonna figurative work, please bring something to the table. @tajhrust understands the assignment. Standing in front of his work, which is on exhibit at @alexanderberggruen til April 1, his paintings seem to be in conversation with Gauguin. And this is a small thing: I love the way he renders Black peoples’ feet. 6-7) The great @mcarthurbinion , the noted abstractionist, is now showing new and recent works at @lehmannmaupin through April 18. Wonderful to see how he’s incorporating personal documents—birth certificates, address books, pages from encyclopedias, jazz records—into his work. 8-9) Another emerging voice is @_kwame.azuregomez , who’s having her debut show at @marianneboeskygallery through April 18. I’m intrigued by her layering of paint, images and symbols. Many abstract artists tend towards bold colors—think @aristotles_abstractions_ , @studiogabrielmills , @lindsaybriadams , as examples. Kwame, on the other hand, sands her acrylic paint down, which creates a muted, hazy effect. #contemporaryart #painting #artadvisor #goseeart #nycgallery

Born on this day in 1934. Marguerite Shurney Fields. Mom. Deeply missed.