Southampton has plenty of parties every summer. Most of them use “art” loosely, as a word to justify an open bar and a good photo backdrop. The Art Affair, which just marked its fourth consecutive year on Friday, July 10, is one of the few that actually earns the label. Held at the private Southampton estate of Igor Ger from 6 p.m. to past 11, this year’s edition brought together more than two dozen artists and galleries, a full slate of live performance, and a crowd that came specifically for the work on the walls, not just the setting it was hung in.
Four Summers, One Estate
Ger’s property has quietly become the event’s home base, hosting the gathering for four years running. What sets his estate apart isn’t just the acreage; it’s what’s parked on it. Guests moved between framed canvases and Ger’s own vintage car collection all evening, an odd but oddly natural pairing that turned into one of the event’s defining details. Nobody seemed to find it strange to admire a sculpture and a 1960s roadster within the same ten feet.
The Two People Who Actually Built This
Behind the scenes, credit belongs to contemporary artist Eddy Bogaert and Maryam Zadeh, who co-created The Art Affair together, with Rad Roubeni joining as a third host. Bogaert’s own work, mixed-media pieces that lean into abstraction and raw emotional texture, has earned him a real following internationally, but he’s been fairly consistent about framing this event as bigger than his own career. It’s meant to function as a leg up for artists who don’t usually get this kind of room.
“The Art Affair is about bringing together extraordinary talent and creating meaningful conversations through art,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate creativity, foster new relationships, and experience contemporary art in a dynamic and immersive environment.”
A Wall Full of Names
That mission showed up directly in who got space this year. The full exhibiting list included Bogaert, Zadeh, Roubeni, Black Book Gallery, Yubal Márquez Fleites, Victor Gallery, Mazlish & Wright Contemporary, Kyle Black, Brett Loving, NotYourMuse, Jason Fox, Julia Beynenson, Ralph Ortiz, Jaja Goulbourne, Dolor, Nina Hurwitz, Renata Sheppard, Mike Dreeland, Sarkis, Deirdre Imus, Alejandro Glatt, Olha Svieshnikova, M. Stachio, Ben Bar Vakil, Mr. Ideaz, and Matthew Trujillo. More than two dozen names in total, some with real international recognition, others still building toward it, all shown together, without much hierarchy between a tented pavilion and open lawn space.
Timed Like a Set List, Not a Playlist
Rather than running one long block of background music, the night was staged in clear movements. Things opened quietly with a harp-and-guitar duo while there was still daylight. From there, live sets from Lee Kalt and JehiahSax pushed the energy up a level, and Edward W. Hardy and Stephanie Babirak added a performance-art component to the mix, including a live charcoal drawing piece done right on the patio floor, the kind of act that quiets a crowd without anyone asking them to. Flambeaux’s fire performance capped the night, a closing ritual carried over from previous years that’s now essentially expected by returning guests.
The Sponsor List Skipped the Obvious Picks
Behind the bar, the drinks program leaned toward smaller, more specific names rather than the usual big liquor brands: Alazani Estate Winery, Upstate Vodka, Reif Rum, Jaywalk Rye, Drink Black Mkt, Hello Honey Iced Tea, Mezcalum, X Factory and Superior Sparkling all poured throughout the night. Rad Art NYC ran production.
No Exact Numbers, But a Clear Trend
Organizers wouldn’t confirm a specific headcount, only that this year ranked among the strongest turnouts the event has had in four years, with collectors and gallerists arriving from Manhattan, the greater East End, and abroad. A fifth edition is already in the works for next summer, with a bigger artist and gallery roster reportedly in the plans. Four years in, The Art Affair has managed something a lot of Hamptons summer events never quite pull off: staying about the art, even as the party around it keeps growing.
