AIPAD The Photography Show 2025
April 23-27: AIPAD | The Photography Show at The Armory
The Association of International Photography Art Dealers [AIPAD] was organized in 1979. With members in the United States, Australia, Canada, Europe and Japan, the Association has become a unifying force in the field of photography. AIPAD is dedicated to creating and maintaining high standards in the business of exhibiting, buying, and selling photographic art.
Acting as the collective voice of the art photography dealers that make up its membership, AIPAD maintains ethical standards, promotes communication within the photographic community, encourages public appreciation of photography as art, concerns itself with the rights of photographers and collectors, and works to enhance the confidence of the public in responsible photography collecting. AIPAD members provide a wide range of services to the public, such as exhibitions, appraisals, expert opinions and consultations.
The Photography Show Presented by AIPAD is the longest-running fair dedicated to photography in the world. This international festival, which returns to the Park Avenue Armory [above]next week, presents exhibitors from around the globe, unveiling an exciting and diverse mix of work that reflects a fluid and dynamic understanding of the photographic medium.
Originally built as a headquarters for a militia regiment made up of many members of New York’s social elite during the American Civil War, the sprawling Gothic Revival building is now leased to the non-profit arts organization Park Avenue Armory Conservancy, which works to support art, music and performances in the Armory’s 55,000-square-foot drill hall and historic Gilded Age rooms.
The 45th edition of The Photography Show features a robust slate of educational programming, artist talks and cultural activations. With the fair now expanded to five days, the roster of talks and demos is truly inspiring. Following is a preview of the ones that caught my eye. For more information on this and other events, see their program.
Thursday, April 24, 4:00pm: Michael Stipe in Conversation
Michael Stipe, Artist, Producer, and Singer/Songwriter, will join Drew Sawyer, Sondra Gilman Curator of Photography at the Whitney Museum of American Art, for an intimate conversation about Stipe’s progression as a photographer, with insights into his work and how it resonates within his larger creative practice as an artist, producer and singer/songwriter.
Thursday, April 24, 5:30pm: Art of the Photobook
Publishers and artists discuss the importance of the photobook as a medium and aspect of a fine art photographer’s oeuvre, along with the process ofcreating volumes that speak Lab, Andrew Sanigar of Thames & Hudson and Kevin Moore, Curator of the McEvoy Collection, San Francisco and the Artistic Director and C, urator of FotoFocus.
Friday, April 25, 2:30pm: Founded by NYC Tourism: Photographers Defining NYC’s Story
Presented in partnership with NYC Tourism + Conventions, this inspiring panel of today’s top female photographers considers the legacy of pioneering women in the industry (such as Alice Austen, Diane Arbus and Nan Goldin) who pushed the boundaries of their time and helped shape the visual representation of New York City. As part of the Founded By NYC campaign for the City’s 400th anniversary, this discussion will also explore how these current artists bring multifaceted perspectives to the five boroughs, revealing their layered histories when turning their camera on NYC as subject matter. Moderator Jen Davis (NYC Tourism) will lead the conversation with artists Meryl Meisler, Elizabeth Bick, Jutharat 'Poupay' Pinyodoonyachet and Christine Osinski.
Friday, April 25, 4:00pm: Arthur Elgort: Portrait Mode with Sophie Elgort
Join renowned photographer Arthur Elgort, Dara, Fashion Director of Interview Magazine and Vanessa Friedman, Fashion Director and Chief Fashion Critic of The New York Times, for a conversation moderated by photographer Sophie Elgort. Coinciding with the 400th anniversary of New York City, the panel will explore the city’s profound influence on photography and how its streets have served as an ‘unofficial studio’ for photographers past and present. From the Rolleiflex to the iPhone, they’ll discuss how photography has evolved with technology, becoming even more relevant and accessible while shaping fashion, culture and storytelling—and bringing art to new audiences around the world. Photography as a catalyst for conversation is at the center of ‘Portrait Mode with Sophie Elgort,’ a new series hosted by Sophie Elgort and available now to stream on ALL ARTS (The WNET Group)
Saturday, April 26, 1:00pm: Contemporary Visions: Shelley Niro and Cara Romero
Acclaimed Indigenous artists Shelley Niro and Cara Romero speak on the power of their imagery and the deep histories of their work, utilizing storytelling and through an emphasis on imaginative realities. Moderated by Dare Turner, Curator of Indigenous Art, Brooklyn Museum.
Saturday, April 26, 4:00pm: Culture Clash: First-Generation American Photographers
What does it mean to be closely intertwined with two cultures at once? This talk explores how a dual cultural upbringing manifests in artists’ bodies of work. First-Generation American photographic artists Keisha Scarville, Tommy Kha and Diana Markosian talk to Jenée-Daria Strand, Assistant Curator at Public Art Fund, about how their artwork is influenced and informed by their unique cultural backgrounds.
Sunday, April 27, 2:30pm: I’m so Happy You Are Here: Japanese Women Photographers from the 1950s to Now
The panel features co-editors Pauline Vermare, Philip and Edith Leonian Curator of Photography, Brooklyn Museum and Lesley Martin, Executive Director, Printed Matter, in conversation with Russet Lederman, Writer, Editor and Co-Founder, 10x10 Photobooks and Sayaka Takahashi, Gallerist, PGI, moderated by Miwa Susuda of Dashwood Books. I'm So Happy You Are Here presents (Aperture 2024) a much-needed counterpoint, complement and challenge to historical precedents and the established canon of Japanese photography. This restorative history presents a wide range of photographic approaches brought to bear on the lived experiences and perspectives of women in Japanese society.
Many special events are scheduled for next week as well; following is a little teaser
April 24, 2025, 6:30-8:00pm: I Am Martin Parr, film screening at ICP
Visit ICP late night for a special screening in the ICP Library of Lee Shulman’s new documentary “I Am Martin Parr,” the definitive portrait of an extraordinary photographer who revolutionized contemporary photography by inventing a political, humanist and accessible photographic language. Director Lee Shulman will join ICP Director at Large, Francois Hebel for a Q&A after the screening.
Since the 1970s, English photographer Martin Parr has held up a sometimes tender, sometimes critical and always mischievous mirror to our times, forcing us to take a hard look at how consumer society has shaped our lives. Discover the maverick behind some of the most iconic images of the past century on an intimate and exclusive road trip across England with the uncompromising Parr, whose subjects, frames and colours have revolutionized contemporary photography.
ICP, 84 Ludlow Street, New York, NY Tickets
Last chance, April 26: Richard Learoyd at Pace
The exhibition features a selection of photographs Learoyd produced with his custom-built camera obscura between 2018 and 2025. Deeply inspired by Dutch Golden Age painting, Learoyd’s works take viewers on a journey through intimate moments and intricate details, examining the relationship between subject, light, and space. The photographs on display explore a range of subjects, from hauntingly evocative portraits to still-life compositions that breathe life into the simplest of objects.
Learoyd’s unique photographic processes require an immense degree of technical precision, resulting in incredibly detailed, luminous prints with a tactile richness rarely seen in contemporary photography. Reflecting on the delicate interplay between light, shadow, and form, Learoyd’s work is imbued with a surreal, auratic presence that speaks to his enduring interest in the notion of collective photographic memory—the idea that a picture can be felt and understood on a subconscious level. The artist is renowned for his masterful use of light and his ability to capture the profound depth and stillness of the human experience. Read my 2015 interview with the artist in Aperture here
Pace Gallery, 508 West 25th Street, New York, NY Info