Once a year, Aspen becomes a high-altitude art capital thanks to Aspen Art Week, which returns on July 29 with a reinvigorated sense of purpose and an increasingly ambitious slate of programming that stretches across fairs, institutions and a constellation of luxury venues. Now in its fifteenth edition, Intersect Aspen Art + Design Fair will transform the Aspen Ice Garden into the city’s largest cultural canvas with more than forty exhibitors. Concurrently, the sophomore edition of the Aspen Art Fair will stage its 2025 takeover of the historic Hotel Jerome, reimagining sixteen guest rooms, the ballroom and the bar as immersive gallery spaces
“I looked for months to find a venue that was appropriate,” Becca Hoffman, co-founder of the fair, tells Observer when we connect ahead of Aspen Art Week. Hoffman has a deep understanding of the local scene, having previously served as managing director of Intersect Aspen Art + Design from 2020 to 2023, guiding its pandemic-era online edition and three subsequent in-person iterations. In launching the Aspen Art Fair last year with Bob Chase, she set out to create a boutique, destination-driven experience designed to draw more people to the city while spotlighting its vibrant cultural scene.
By all accounts, she succeeded, which should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with her background. Hoffman brought with her a wealth of art fair know-how from her time leading the Outsider Art Fair. She was also the brains behind a series of nomadic, curated events at the intersection of art and design, including “Window and Couch” in Vienna, “INFLUENCERS” in Milan, “LA MER” in Marseille and “The Feast” in Singapore. But in Aspen, Hoffman has found the philanthropic backing that every art fair needs to grow and thrive. “We believe it’s a destination that continues to evolve, spark dialogue, stimulate intellect and advance creative narratives,” she says.
