SOUTHAMPTON, NY.- Florida’s bustling art scene will soon make a major impression in the Hamptons, with one of the world’s première art fairs bringing an unparalleled array of the world’s finest contemporary art to one of the world’s greatest artists communities, The Hamptons. For over three centuries, renowned artists - from 19th Century Plein Air painter William Merritt Chase to the 20th Century moderns Jackson Pollack, Willem de Kooning, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein to their 21st Century counterparts Cindy Sherman, April Gornik, Eric Fischl - have all called the East End home.

Art Miami, the longest running contemporary art fair and anchor fair to the city of Miami, is largely credited with making South Florida, a destination for collectors of world-class art works in every medium. How appropriate that such a world class art fair, renowned internationally for the highest caliber of contemporary and modern art should launch its newest art fair in the fabled resort of Southampton, itself possessing an extraordinarily rich artistic heritage.

The inaugural Art Southampton presented by Art Miami, the premiere International Contemporary & Modern Art Fair and marketplace for acquiring the finest works of art available in the Hamptons, will make its long - and eagerly - awaited Hamptons’ debut at the height of the social and cultural season this summer. The fair will take place from July 26-30, 2012 in a state-of-the-art 75,000 square foot Pavilion located on the sprawling 18-acre fairgrounds behind the Southampton Elks Lodge between the Southampton Country Club and Mercedes Benz of Southampton located directly off Route 27 A. The fair will commence on Thursday evening, July 26, 2012 with a highly-anticipated Opening Night VIP Preview benefiting Southampton Hospital.

"We are excited to be a benefactor of the inaugural Art Southampton Fair," said Robert Chaloner, President and CEO, Southampton Hospital. "This art Fair is a wonderful opportunity to bring our supporters and the international contemporary art community together in an entirely new way. Most importantly contributions from this event will assist Southampton Hospital in continuing to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our Eastern Long Island communities."

Like its sister fair Art Miami, which has for over 22 years distinguished itself for presenting the finest in modern and contemporary art and become a not-to-be-missed opportunity for collectors, art advisors, museum directors, curators, artists, connoisseurs, and interior designers, Art Southampton will feature a carefully selected group of 70-75 international art galleries, with a strong focus on primary artists and select secondary market works. An advisory committee is in place to assist in the vetting of gallery programs ensuring that the quality of art will be on par with the excellence of Art Miami allowing collectors, institutions, curators and art advisors to buy with confidence.

International galleries participating include Galerie Forsblom, Finland, Galerie Terminus Germany, Hollis Taggart, New York, Hackelbury Fine Art, UK, Edelman Arts, New York, Arcature, Palm Beach, Gallery Valentine, Easthampton & Bridgehampton, Vincent Vallarino, New York, Waterhouse & Dodd, UK, Allan Stone, New York, Dai Ichi Arts, New York, Nikola Rukaj, Canada, Dean Project, New York, Debuck Gallery, New York, Cynthia Corbett, UK, Antoine Helwaser Gallery, New York and many others. Please visit www.art-southampton.com for a full list of participating galleries.

Artists works to be shown include Milton Avery, C. Berg, Ross Bleckner, Fernando Botero, John Clement, Hans Cotter, Andrew Grima, Hans Hoffman, Kaarina Kaikkonen, Roy Lichtenstein, Li Liong, Jane Manus, Eugenio Merino, Robert Motherwell, Jeff Muhs, Harumi Nakashima, Louise Nevelson, Julian Opie, Alfonso Ossorio, Tony Oursler, Pablo Picasso, Larry Poons, Gerhard Richter, Larry Rivers, Jesus Rafael Soto, Theodoros Stamos, Donald Sultan, Norman Bluhm, Luis Tomasello, Victor Vaserely, Bernar Venet, Andy Warhol and many more.

Art Miami is known world wide for its luxurious presentations and Art Southampton will showcase the same high quality presentation while providing an intimate look at some of the most important works at the forefront of the international contemporary art movement. The elegantly appointed Pavilion will offer amenities for all guests, a unique ambience and design that is unrivaled by any other art fair in the Hamptons including a professionally designed VIP Lounge, and curated indoor & outdoor projects.

The proximity of the Art Southampton Pavilion will provide ample parking and convenient access for residents and collectors living on Long Island, the greater New York area and the tri-state area who visit the Hamptons frequently during the summer. As well for the convenience of patrons, there will be dining options on the fairgrounds provided by the top toques on the East End and the fair will run extended operating hours to accommodate the active and social lifestyle of those visiting the Hamptons during this busy weekend.

With its on Rte 27 location at the gateway to the Hamptons, Art Southampton is an easy stop along the way for residents living further East and visitors heading to The Watermill Center, Long House reserve or any of the other major attractions in the Hamptons.

Highlights of the weekend-long Fair will include:

* First View | Thursday, July 26th | Art Southampton’s Exclusive VIP Preview Reception will benefit the Southampton Hospital will provide VIP collectors and members of the press a unique opportunity to view and acquire some of the finest contemporary and modern art prior to the Fair opening to the public. By invitation only. Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres will be served.

* Also on Thursday July 26, there will be the premiere of “HEAARTBEAT” a documentary which takes an incisive look at the late renowned sculptor John Chamberlain by his step-daughter filmmaker Alexandra Fairweather. By documenting Chamberlain's artistic process and intentions, the film reveals his desire to go out into the world and create art that makes your 'heart beat. “HEAARTBEAT” captures the man that the public has not seen before: Chamberlain as a father, a husband, and a friend. As he battles health issues, Chamberlain races against time to complete sculptures that will leave his mark on the world. In conclusion, the movie asserts that art's true value comes from the presentation of 'unprecedented information' and ' the experience of self-discovery’.

The screening will benefit the Ross School’s Chamberlain–Fairweather Scholarship Fund for the Arts. The Fund was created by John Chamberlain, Prudence Fairweather and Alexandra Fairweather in 2007 to recognize and support students with a passion for the arts who are in need of financial aid to receive the excellent global interdisciplinary education offered by Ross School. Each year this scholarship encourages young artists to realize their dreams and impact the future of fine arts.

*Friday July 27, internationally acclaimed director Robert Wilson will host a VIP reception followed by a screening of “HEAARTBEAT” to launch the Watermill Center/Chamberlain Residency Fund. International friends and local supporters of The Watermill Center who are attending their famed gala Saturday evening will be able to kickoff their weekend in grand style in the VIP Lounge at Art Southampton.

The Watermill Center is an interdisciplinary laboratory for the arts and humanities completed in 2006 on the Long Island, NY site of a former Western Union communication research facility. Founded by theatre and visual artist Robert Wilson as a place for young and emerging artists to work, learn, create, and grow with each other, Watermill integrates performing arts practice with resources from the humanities, research from the sciences, and inspiration from the visual arts. Their annual summer gala one of the most anticipated parties of the season.

*ARTLOG, the leading contemporary arts guide, exhibition resource and events company, who is the Official Young Collectors Sponsor of the Fair will host an exclusive VIP event for the Whitney Contemporaries.

*Art Southampton will also partner with Southampton’s oldest charitable organization, the Southampton Fresh Air Home founded in 1901. The Southampton Fresh Air Home (SFAH) is one of the few residential camp facilities in the eastern United States that accommodates severely as well as mildly and moderately physically challenged children. SFAH provides an environment in which campers play, socialize, mature and develop physically, emotionally and psychologically

Art Southampton will support the organization’s famed Decorators-Designers-Dealers Sale, Auctions and Cocktail Benefit Party benefit, the eagerly anticipated season opener on the first weekend in June. Art Southampton will contribute to the program, provide complimentary passes to attendees and offer special VIP packages for their auction.

“We are so thrilled to have the support of Art Southampton this year,” remarked SFAH President Michaela Keszler. “Their commitment and financial support of the Fresh Air Home and other local charities is a welcome addition to the summer season.”

Art Miami maintains a preeminent position in America's contemporary art fair market and with the addition of Art Southampton they add enormous luster to an already glittering reputation. With a rich history, it is the original and longest-running contemporary art fair in Miami and continues to receive praise for the quality and variety of unparalleled art that it offers.

Show Director Nick Korniloff believes that Art Southampton will be a transformative event on the Hamptons cultural landscape and says, “Our goal as an organization is to come to the Hamptons and engage the community both socially and culturally long-term and offer a discerning group of collectors at every level the opportunity to enjoy the highest level art fair ever held in The Hamptons”.

With more than 17 years of experience in art fair management and production, Korniloff is a true art world veteran who is widely praised for his knowledge of both the fine art and contemporary markets. His continued commitment to create new opportunities for the international art community through the development of new art fairs and collaborative partnerships has attracted some of the most prestigious galleries both in the contemporary and classical markets. He is known as a leader in the industry and has been touted as an expert in connecting dealers with new, affluent, international collectors. Art & Auction Magazine’s acknowledge Korniloff’s work in repositioning Art Miami in its 2008 Power List.

Art Southampton is currently offering VIP Host Committee membership to top art collectors, curators, business and community leaders from the New York area and across the country who appreciate the value of highlighting Southampton as a world-class center for contemporary art in the United States. Members of the Host Committee will be invited to exclusive VIP events, have access to the VIP lounge and café, and play a key role in furthering the success of the fair. More importantly, they will have the opportunity to share their passion for art among friends, colleagues and other VIP art aficionados.