NEW YORK.- The Armory Show 2005 will take place March 11-14, 2005, on Piers 90 and 92 in New York City. The Opening Night Preview Party benefiting the Exhibition Fund of the Museum of Modern Art takes place on Thursday, March 10. This year’s Selection Committee has accepted 161 international galleries out of more than 550 applicants, representing an influential assemblage of primary dealers showing new art by living artists. In keeping with The Armory Show’s commitment to remain on the cutting edge of the contemporary art world, 27 galleries, including one from India, will make their debut in The Armory Show 2005. The exhibitors come from 39 cities around the world and represent a total of 1,900 artists. Almost half of the exhibitors are based in Europe with a significant number of galleries from Asia and Latin America also presenting. Over 40,000 visitors are expected to attend The Armory Show 2005 including a who’s who of the international art world and leaders in business, fashion, design and the entertainment fields.

The 2005 edition of the fair will be tighter with fewer exhibiting galleries than the 2004 fair (161 versus 189 in 2004). Although there will be fewer galleries overall, visitors to the fair will see more art than ever before. Galleries will use more square footage in their exhibition than in any previous year, allowing exhibitors to showcase larger works.

For the fourth year, The Armory Show commissioned an artist to create original artwork for all visual materials, giving an up and coming artist wide exposure. Swedish artist Jockum Nordström’s signature collages are featured in the communications materials for this year’s fair.

Global law firm Clifford Chance is the new Presenting Sponsor of The Armory Show, an indication of the fair’s growing influence and success.

The Armory Show is the successor to the highly acclaimed Gramercy International Art Fairs that attracted thousands to their New York, Los Angeles and Miami shows between 1994 and 1998. The Armory Show was first presented in February 1999 at the 69th Regiment Armory, the very site of the now legendary Armory Show of 1913 that introduced modern art to America and for which The Armory Show is named. 38,000 visitors attended the 2004 edition and a record $43,000,000 of art was sold over the course of the four-day fair.