Naples, FL - February 14, 2012– The second annual Naples International Art & Antique Fair (NIAAF), Naples premier international fine art fair, will return February 23-28 to the Naples International Pavilion at Immokalee and Livingston Roads.

The 2012 Fair will showcase an array of international galleries exhibiting works for sale including painting from all periods, antique objet d'art, modern and mid-century Murano glass, sculpture, haute and period jewelry and decorative art and design.

EXHIBITOR HIGHLIGHTS:

Unique new designs will be presented by leading jewelry houses including one of the prominent pearl designers of the new millennium and returning exhibitor Yvel (Jerusalem). Rosenberg Diamonds (Boca Raton), Emsaru (New York) and Jewels by Viggi (Greenwich | Great Neck) will also be among the exhibiting dealers.

A collection of fine period jewelry will be showcased including J.S. Fearnley (Atlanta) and Spare Room (Baltimore) whose collections include period 20th century signed jewelry by David Webb, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Buccellati and Seaman Schepps.

Established international dealers will present paintings of all periods including 18th, 19th and 20th Century master works. Among the artists represented will include Chagall, Picasso, Klee, Lichtenstein, Dubuffet, Warhol and Calder.

NIAAF will feature a collection of antique furniture and unique objet d’art. Mark Helliar 20th Century Design (Los Angeles) will present Modern and Mid-Century vintage Murano glass and from the far reaches of Turkey, Gallery Afrodit will bring a collection of unique Oriental rugs.

The Silver Fund will be bringing an outstanding collection of Georg Jensen silver. In addition to the comprehensive collection of Georg Jensen holloware, the gallery will also bring an inventory including exceptional 20th century silver designed by Jean Puiforicat, William Spratling, Antonio Pineda and many other great 20th century designers.

This year the fair will feature a special design exhibition of local Naples artist and designer Chad Jensen, brought by AVANT Gallery (Miami, FL). Jensen has mastery level training in woodwork and fine furniture making, representing over 15 years of experience in mixed-media design and manufacturing.

LECTURE HIGHLIGHTS:

The Fair will continue its successful format of a full lecture and panel series to coincide with the exhibitions. Lecture highlights include “The Experts Eye”. Tim Corfield, Art Advisor of Corfield Morris (London & New York) will present works of art from the fair’s exhibitors and discuss how an art and antique expert assesses the quality of the work, researches it’s provenance and determines it’s investment value. The presentation will include estate jewelry, paintings, furniture, object d’ art and carpets.

David Setford, Executive Director, The Hyde Collection, NY will present “From Monet to Pollock”. The lecture will discuss how Impressionism and Realism in Paris led to Abstract Expressionism in New York City and what happened in the period between 1900-1960. The presentation will provide listeners with a curatorial perspective on a selection of works featured in the fair. Each piece will highlight a varying element within the vast transformation between European Modernism and American Abstract Expressionism.

Joyce Jonas, Expert Appraiser, will present “Jewels of the American Heiresses”. This lecture and presentation will trace the American legacy of estate jewelry throughout the ages from the glamorous Gilded Age with “American Royalty”, the Vanderbilt and Astor families, those who formally bought their way into English nobility, and even American possession of the highly coveted French Crown Jewels. Precious gems have been regarded as the ultimate status symbol, and in the 1960s, turned Elizabeth Taylor, Grace Kelly into Hollywood Royalty and Americans Mona Bismarck, Doris Duke, Millicent Rogers into international Heiresses.

“Naples Cultural Landscape: From Boat Captains to Captains of Industry” will be presented by Dr. Lois Bolin, Old Naples Historian. Dr. Bolin has been the leading voice behind the economic and sociological value of local history, virtually transforming the consciousness of the Naples community. This educational and entertaining lecture presentation encapsulates the visual and special relationship of this area to an identity that captured the imagination of boat captains and Captains of Industry - all equally important in creating the magic in this paradise that many now call home.

PREVIEW EVENING:

The Preview evening, February 23, will honor the Patty and Jay Baker Naples Museum of Art and Naples Philharmonic. The evening will commence with a by-invitation-only First View from 5:30-7 PM, followed by the Collectors Invitational from 7-10 PM.

FAIR HOURS AND INFORMATION:

NIAAF is located at the Naples International Pavilion at Immokalee and Livingston Roads. Easily accessible parking and valet will be available. Fair hours will be February 24 - 26 from 11am to 7pm and February 27th and 28th, from 11am to 5pm. Tickets are $15 for a one-day pass, $20 for a multi-day pass or can be purchased in advance at a discounted fair price on the NIAAF website.