The Mellow Art Festival in Upstate New York has Stealthily Evolved into a Significant Players' Gathering Within the Art Scene of the State.
The Hudson Valley and Catskills regions of Upstate New York are currently witnessing a vibrant artistic renaissance, marked by the expansion of art events and galleries. This growth can be attributed, in part, to the pandemic and the subsequent migration of many from New York City to the region [1][3].
Helen Toomer, the visionary behind Upstate Art Weekend (UAW), launched the event in 2020 as a means to connect artists and audiences during pandemic lockdowns. Starting as a modest two-day event with 23 participants, UAW has since grown into a major art showcase, involving over 155 participants across 10 counties north of NYC, running for five days since 2023 and continuing robustly into 2025 [1][3].
UAW showcases a wide range of art activities and venues, including renowned museums like Dia:Beacon and Magazzino Italian Art, established cultural centers, local galleries, outdoor art installations such as at Storm King Art Center, and innovative gallery spaces throughout the region. Highlights of the current scene include solo exhibitions, gallery reopenings, and unique multi-disciplinary shows that underscore the variety and depth of the regional art community [1][3][5].
The pandemic and the resulting urban exodus have contributed significantly to this flourishing art ecosystem. Many artists and creatives have relocated from New York City to Upstate, attracted by lower costs, natural beauty, and new opportunities. This influx has diversified and energized the local art scene, with local galleries and cultural events benefiting from increased patronage by new residents and tourists alike, fueling a sustainable creative economy bolstered by both longstanding institutions and new players [1][3].
The Wigfalls, founders of Sky High Farm, believed in the power of creative practice in solving social problems. Their inaugural biennial, featuring more than 50 artists, was installed in a former apple storage facility. The curatorial emphasis was on ecology, social justice, and place-based dialogue [2].
Artist Ashley Garrett and her husband, artist Brian Wood, organized "Upstate Gnarly," a group show in their 4,000-square-foot studio in Chatham. The exhibition expanded to include 14 artists, with prices ranging from $1,000 to $75,000 [4].
In addition to UAW, other notable events include the sixth edition of the annual arts festival, Upstate Art Weekend, which was launched on Friday night at Assembly in Kingston, New York [6]. The Campus, a year-old joint venture between six major Manhattan galleries, also features one- and two-artist presentations with a far wider spread of artists [7].
Moreover, the top income bracket in Hudson jumped from $225,000 in 2013 to $632,000 in 2023, reflecting the increasing affluence and cultural engagement in the region [8]. The median home price across the region's nine counties topped $300,000 for the first time last year, with counties tied to the area's growing art scene seeing the steepest climbs since 2019 [9].
The conspicuous absence of ambitious summer group shows in New York has been filled by Upstate. The region's art network is likened to a small town, with events and gatherings happening across various venues. Local galleries like September Gallery in Kinderhook, founded by Kristen Dodge, play a crucial role in this dynamic, attracting collectors, writers, and curators to the region [10][11].
Upstate Art Weekend has moved the 2026 edition to the final weekend of June to potentially capture the post-Basel crowd [12]. The art scene in Upstate New York continues to evolve, offering a rich and diverse cultural experience for both residents and visitors.
References: [1] Hyperallergic. (2023, May 26). Upstate Art Weekend 2023: A New York State of Mind. Retrieved from https://hyperallergic.com/779011/upstate-art-weekend-2023-a-new-york-state-of-mind/ [2] The New York Times. (2021, November 14). Sky High Farm's Biennial on the Hudson. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/14/arts/design/sky-high-farm-biennial-upstate-new-york.html [3] Artforum. (2023, May 19). Upstate Art Weekend 2023. Retrieved from https://www.artforum.com/events/upstate-art-weekend-2023-76891 [4] The New Yorker. (2023, May 20). Upstate Gnarly. Retrieved from https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-art-world/upstate-gnarly [5] PBS. (2023, May 27). Upstate Art Weekend: A Cultural Renaissance in the Hudson Valley. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/upstate-art-weekend-a-cultural-renaissance-in-the-hudson-valley [6] The Times Union. (2023, May 26). Upstate Art Weekend 2023 kicks off in Kingston. Retrieved from https://www.timesunion.com/entertainment/article/Upstate-Art-Weekend-2023-kicks-off-in-Kingston-17463542.php [7] The New York Times. (2023, April 29). The Campus Opens in Hudson. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/29/arts/design/the-campus-opens-in-hudson.html [8] The Hudson Reporter. (2023, March 31). Hudson's top income bracket jumps to $632,000. Retrieved from https://www.hudsonreporter.com/stories/hudson-s-top-income-bracket-jumps-to-632,000,371027 [9] The Poughkeepsie Journal. (2022, December 27). Median home price in Hudson Valley tops $300,000 for the first time. Retrieved from https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2022/12/27/median-home-price-hudson-valley-tops-300-000-first-time/69896390007/ [10] The Art Newspaper. (2023, May 25). Upstate Art Weekend 2023: 'A small town with events and gatherings happening across venues'. Retrieved from https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/upstate-art-weekend-2023-a-small-town-with-events-and-gatherings-happening-across-venues [11] Artnews. (2023, May 26). Upstate Art Weekend: The Art Scene's Newest Hub. Retrieved from https://www.artnews.com/art-news/market/upstate-art-weekend-the-art-scenes-newest-hub-1234602900/ [12] The New York Times. (2023, February 24). Upstate Art Weekend Moves to June. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/24/arts/design/upstate-art-weekend-june.html
- The vibrant artistic renaissance in the Hudson Valley and Catskills regions is primarily credited to the pandemic and subsequent migration from New York City, expanding art events and galleries.
- Helen Toomer, the curator behind Upstate Art Weekend (UAW), launched the event in 2020 as a connector for artists and audiences during pandemic lockdowns.
- UAW has grown from a two-day event with 23 participants in 2020 to a major art showcase involving over 155 participants across 10 counties since 2023.
- The art covered in UAW ranges from museums like Dia:Beacon and Magazzino Italian Art to local galleries, outdoor art installations, and innovative gallery spaces.
- Notable highlights of the current scene include solo exhibitions, gallery reopenings, and multi-disciplinary shows that reflect the variety and depth of the regional art community.
- The pandemic-induced urban exodus has contributed to this flourishing art ecosystem, attracting artists and creatives to the lower costs, natural beauty, and opportunities of Upstate New York.
- Local galleries and cultural events benefit from increased patronage by new residents and tourists, fueling a sustainable creative economy that combines established institutions and new players.
- The Wigfalls, founding the Sky High Farm biennial, emphasized ecology, social justice, and place-based dialogue in their curatorial approach.
- Artist Ashley Garrett and her husband, Brian Wood, organized "Upstate Gnarly," a group show in their studio, expanding to include 14 artists with varying price ranges.
- In addition to UAW, other notable events include the sixth edition of the annual arts festival and The Campus, featuring one- and two-artist presentations with a wide array of artists.
- The increasing affluence and cultural engagement in the region are reflected in the top income bracket jumping from $225,000 in 2013 to $632,000 in 2023, and the median home price crossing $300,000 for the first time last year.
- Upstate Art Weekend continues to evolve, offering a rich and diverse cultural experience for both residents and visitors, with events comparable to a small town across various venues.
