Rick Friedman is the founder and director of the Hamptons Fine Art Fair and is about to kick off the 2026 festivities, marking 20 years for this world-renowned show. Catching up with Friedman remains an endless discovery year after year, and one can easily describe the show the same way. His passion for the HFAF and the world of art is magnetic. He perpetually reimagines the show, shaking things up and surprising attendees. This year is no exception. The Hamptons Fine Art Fair is taking place July 9 to 12 in Southampton and is, well, show-stopping.
“It’s undoubtedly our biggest and most exciting show,” said Friedman. “We have 140 exhibitors and, in the end, it’s beyond what I could have imagined as an homage to our milestone year and America’s big birthday.”
Anyone planning to attend should brace themselves: This year’s fair, a tribute to America’s 250th celebration, will be elevated, inspirational, and awe-inspiring. Of course, patrons will happily find many of the same beloved, jaw-dropping exhibits featuring world-renowned and established artists, all while welcoming exciting newcomers and hosting celebratory special events — taking things to another level.
Friedman sounds exuberant as we review this year’s highlights, reverberating the same excitement as always as we discuss his love of abstract art, established artists, and discovering new talents. He “talks the talk and walks the walk” — as he happens to be one of the largest collectors of abstract art in the country, with over 300 museum pieces in his personal collection, including works by Hamptons artists from the 1950-70 abstract era. This year, 60 pieces from his personal collection are being exhibited at the Nassau County Museum of Art, including works by Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner, and Willem de Kooning. A prominent baseball exhibit is there, too, marking the first time a national baseball show has been showcased in a show like this.
Friedman took time to share his excitement about Babe Ruth’s game-used bat, which is front and center and not to be missed.
“I am the largest collector of Hamptons artists from the 1950-1970’s era,” he said. “It’s a curated selection of my collection and will be shown at HFAF. Attendees should expect to see about 15 key pieces. With an upcoming show so rich, selecting just a handful of standouts feels nearly impossible. However, these highlights represent the undeniable pulse of this year’s must-see stops.”
As the centerpiece of HFAF’s America 250 celebration, the fair’s entrance will feature a striking 10-foot bronze sculpture of Lady Liberty, representing a major part of 19th-century American history. It is from the limited bronze edition of 12 artist proofs of Féderic Auguste Bartholdi’s original plaster of The Statue of Liberty, from the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris.
“It’s priced at $1M,” said Friedman. “It’s certainly a big coup for the show,” he added. Taking a moment, one thinks about the price tag: it may not sell this summer, although one never knows in the Hamptons. The symbolism does not go unnoticed, however, and it’s clear that this was a colossal undertaking and huge win for this year’s show.
The quick backstory is that on Bartholdi’s return in 1871 from his voyage to America, this incredible sculptor and painter began a work that would become the infamous Statue of Liberty; he finished the final model in 1878. It was enlarged for the statue at Ellis Island and was also used to create the 12 artist proofs, all of which were cast between 2010 and 2021. Friedman’s outreach and work to make this happen was tireless. Yes, it will be Instagram-worthy, but for visitors, it’s clear this exhibition offers a comprehensive retrospective of America’s defining moments.
An opening-night VIP Red, White & Blue Party will be held on July 9 and will benefit the Southampton Arts Center and the Parrish Art Museum. On July 10, they welcome the return of the fair’s Young Collectors Party. A highlight of the show, the Young Collectors Party comprises young members from prestigious New York City museums such as The Whitney, Guggenheim, The Frick, and the Sotheby’s Institute.
Another highlight is “Marilyn @ 100: The Hamptons Marilyn Monroe Centennial Tribute — The Last Sitting.” Unknown to many, early in her career, Monroe was mentored by actor Michael Chekov, who introduced her to the masters of the Italian Renaissance. She always expressed her joy about art and had a deep lifelong passion for visual arts. This not-to-be-missed exhibit is being presented by The Trust of Bert Stern, the father of media personality Howard Stern. Monroe remains one of the most recognizable figures in modern history, and as part of its celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, HFAF will be honoring the legendary screen siren on the centennial of her birth with a historic exhibition of iconic photographs from Stern’s “The Last Sitting,” photographed over three days at the Hotel Bel-Air for Vogue in June 1962.
The British are Coming…Again! Talking with Friedman led to a chat about the impact of the British on this year’s show. Including an invited selection of top UK contemporary galleries. “This showcase is all about artists featuring their own interpretation of America’s heritage, the flag, and other iconography,” added Friedman.
Trailblazers of Hamptons Abstraction will showcase prominent artists from the 1950s to 1970s, all about saluting the Hamptons art era that pioneered and championed the Abstract Expressionism movement. This year’s HFAF will again highlight the East End’s huge selection of important primary and secondary market art. “All mediums are on display at the fair, from paintings, works on paper, and photography, to prints, glassworks, ceramics, wood turning, and a special focus on indoor & outdoor sculptures,” explained Friedman.
Another highlight of this year’s show includes Julien Lennon’s photography. After photographing his half-brother Sean’s music tour in 2007, Julien Lennon developed a serious interest in photography. He has been featured in six solo photography exhibitions. In addition to his visual art career, Julian is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter who has released seven albums and 38 singles since 1984, including the chart-topping hit “Too Late for Goodbyes.” Any proceeds from his work on display at this year’s show will be donated to charity.
Culinary offerings will be in no short supply. Next to the fair’s Outdoor Sculpture Garden, guests can enjoy delicious local dining options throughout the day, with the VIP Lounge and two large indoor bars offering diverse wine and spirit selections.
