Upstate Art Weekend 2026 | A Recap, The Sale That Said It All
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We did it. And we're standing on the other side smiling.
Upstate Art Weekend 2026 was everything we hoped it would be and then some. Five days, four events, one gallery full of extraordinary work, and a community that showed up in full force. Each moment had its own energy, its own magic, and we're still processing all of it.
Thursday: Benjamin Wigfall — Art and Community
We opened the weekend with a talk on the life and legacy of printmaker Benjamin Wigfall, co-hosted with The Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art. Peyton Goldleaf opened the discussion with such depth and care, grounding the audience in the full arc of Wigfall's life and practice. Joined by an extraordinary panel that included Gino Wigfall, son of Benjamin Wigfall, there was storytelling, real exchange, and people in that room who had grown up going to Communications Village, the Kingston community art space and print studio Wigfall founded in 1972. Eve Walter moderated with grace and precision, and all of it unfolded against the backdrop of Ryan's latest body of work, which added its own layer of energy to the room.
We were honored to have Reeva Wolf and Esi Lewis in the audience, both vital figures in our community. Just days before our event, MoMA announced the acquisition of five Benjamin Wigfall pieces into its permanent collection. For those of us in the Hudson Valley who have long known the depth of his contribution, this recognition is deeply deserved. Benjamin Wigfall is the epitome of artist and community creator, and Thursday evening was a tribute worthy of that legacy. We recorded the event in full and are working on a submission to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. More on that soon.
Friday: Fourth Fridays at Water Street Market
Friday brought our community celebration in the best way. Fourth Fridays has always been about the neighborhood coming together, and this edition set against the backdrop of our "What We Keep" exhibition felt especially alive. We watched visitors stop in front of the Keith Haring subway drawing and practically hold their breath. One person said, "I feel like I should get on my knees." There were gasps at the Alex Katz piece. People reached out and nearly touched the Dylan Martinez glass sculpture, mystified that it was glass at all. You can't manufacture moments like that. We closed the doors that night exactly where we wanted to be.
Saturday: Live Block Printing
Saturday afternoon, Peyton led a two-hour block printing activation based on one of Ryan's designs. People printed on tote bags, bandanas, and pencil bags, leaving with something handmade and genuinely theirs. It was hands-on, playful, and exactly the kind of engagement we believe in.
Sunday: Gil Vazquez on Keith Haring
We closed the programming on Sunday with Gil Vazquez, former Executive Director of the Keith Haring Foundation, speaking on Haring's subway drawing series against the backdrop of Haring's Blue Triangle, flanked by two subway drawings. Surreal doesn't quite cover it. Gil brought a perspective that only someone with his relationship to Haring's work and legacy could offer. We captured footage of the entire talk and will be sharing it with you.
The Sale That Said It All
On the final day of UAW, at 5:45 in the evening, a couple walked through our doors and fell in love with the Blue Triangle. By 6:45, our team had it from the gallery floor to their mantle. By 7:30, they gave us a confident yes. The following morning, we had it professionally installed. As I was walking out the door, our new client and friend said, "Melanie, I haven't even known you for 24 hours." She was right. And it was all easy on both sides. That's the flow you work toward. When it happens, it's everything.
Our Team
None of this happens without the people who show up, go all in, and make it look effortless. We worked like a well-oiled machine throughout the weekend, each person contributing something essential. My goal going in was to reach the other side without wishing we had done something differently. I can say with full confidence that goal was met.
A Special Shoutout to Trimper Gallery
A genuine thank you to Alex Trimper and Trimper Gallery. Alex believed in us as a gallery and took a chance on partnering with us to bring something truly unique to the Hudson Valley for Upstate Art Weekend. He curated a room that was entirely his own, and together we created something we could not have built alone. We did something different this year and we felt it. We are deeply grateful for the collaboration and look forward to what comes next.
Thank you to everyone who visited, listened, collected, and shared the weekend with us.  Mark your calendars, Upstate Art Weekend returns June 24–28, 2027! We'll see you next year.
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