Martijn van Pieterson is the President of AIPAD, Marie Pelletier interviewed him.
You are the first non-North American gallery owner to direct AIPAD. What is your history with the organization and what motivated you to take on the role of president?
– It is an honor and a privilege to be president of AIPAD. Before we even opened a gallery, my wife, Annemarie, and I visited The Photography Show, and we were always very impressed with the quality and knowledge of its participants. Needless to say, we couldn’t wait to join AIPAD when we created our gallery, IBASHO. After a few years of visiting and exhibiting as a guest exhibitor, we became members in 2018. As non-US members, we believe it is important to engage with the organization and when I Joined the AIPAD Board of Directors, I found a team of enthusiastic and committed members with big ideas and passion to help the organization grow and move forward. I had no hesitation in accepting the role of President at the end of Michael Lee’s term.
Your gallery, IBASHO, is located in Antwerp and opened in 2015. Did you visit AIPAD when it was held at the Park Avenue Armory? What do you think of its return to this iconic venue this year?
– Coming back to the Park Avenue Armory is like coming home to the organization and its members. We have previously visited the Photography Show there and its location and grandeur make it the most appropriate place to once again host our show in New York.
Two years after the Photography Show’s pandemic hiatus, what is your view on the current photography market?
– It’s been a roller coaster ride over the last few years. After a period of strong development in the online market during and after the pandemic, physical events such as trade fairs have returned in force. There is a trend towards contemporary photography that is not surprising, such as an interest in materiality and the uniqueness of alternative processes, mixed media and collage, but in general there is a strong emphasis on quality in all areas of the photography collection.
This year’s Photography Show roster includes a number of galleries based outside of the United States. How are membership and participation in AIPAD evolving?
– As an organization, we focus heavily on the international aspect of AIPAD, putting extra effort into recruiting international galleries for our fair and our members. During the pandemic, when our collaboration with Paris Photo could not materialize, the number of our members decreased a little. The organization persevered and acted decisively, successfully hosting smaller versions of the show at the 415 Center in New York. This clearly shows existing and potential members that after over 40 years, AIPAD is still a force to be reckoned with in the photography market. The return to the Park Avenue Armory only amplifies this, resulting in strong growth in our membership across photography galleries.
What are some of the steps AIPAD is taking to attract new collectors?
– In addition to bringing an extremely strong roster of galleries, we have an exciting program for this year’s fair. There will be a book market with publishers and rare book dealers, an exciting conference program and a variety of partner programs.
Aside from the show itself, what are your goals for AIPAD as an organization during your tenure?
– Alongside the show, we are heavily focused on growing our membership internationally and domestically, in North America. We have developed a new Associate Membership class to allow exciting young galleries to join us sooner. We are also exploring partnerships with other international photography events and continuing to focus on our communications and education strategies.
What do you think sets The Photography Show apart from other photography shows?
– The Photography Show has a long history of high quality events showing the best of photography for over 40 years. It enjoys enduring credibility among collectors, both individual and institutional, and a critical mass of high-quality galleries, and is consistently capable of innovation and moving toward the avant-garde.
Interview by Marie Pelletier
This article was originally published in the AIPAD Catalog sponsored by MUUS Collection.
The Photography Show presented by AIPAD
April 25 – 28, 2024
Park Avenue Armory
643 Park Ave
New York, NY 10065
www.aipad.com
