Caroline Kerrigan Lerch was named Show Director for the Metropolitan Show, it was announced by Mark Lyman, President of the Art Fair Company.  The inaugural fair, which debuts January 18-22, 2012, at the Metropolitan Pavilion, at 125 West 18th Street in Chelsea, replaces The American Antique Show (TAAS), formerly organized by the American Folk Art Museum.  Ms. Lerch served as Executive Director of TAAS from 2006-2011.

“We are delighted to have Caroline join the Art Fair Company as Show Director for the Metropolitan Show,” said Lyman. “Her impeccable reputation and extensive background in the art world precede her, particularly with The American Antiques Show and The Outsider Art Fair, which she co-founded during her ten year stint at Sanford L. Smith & Associates.”  According to Lyman, Ms. Lerch will be responsible for all aspects of running the show. “We will utilize Caroline’s professional expertise in all matters pertaining to the organization of running a successful fair.”

“I am honored that the Art Fair Company has selected me as Show Director for the new Metropolitan Show,” said 45-year old Ms. Lerch.  “After five years as Executive Director of The American Antiques Show, the prospect of building on the foundation of the American Folk Art Museum's much beloved show is very compelling to me.  I look forward to working with the exhibitors to create an exciting new fair which appeals to a younger audience, while keeping the relevant elements of the old show intact.”

Caroline Kerrigan Lerch also established her own contemporary art gallery called Kerrigan Campbell art + projects/The Viewing Room, which she maintained from 2000-2006, before leaving for Berlin, Germany, where she has been living for the past five years.

"For nearly 20 years now, Caroline has bridged the gap between the worlds of antiques and fine art,” said Frank Maresca, of the Ricco Maresca Gallery, one of the leading specialists in Outsider Art. “A tireless worker, she brings enthusiasm and intelligence to every project that she undertakes and was instrumental in forming and promoting the Outsider Art Fair, which has become a classic. Over the years, Caroline has known and worked closely with countless dealers and show professionals, and she is admired and respected by all of them.  She has a consummate understanding of the past, the present, and a vision for the future of what will be the next generation of art fairs."

The Art Fair Company, founded by Michael Franks, the former COO of dmg world media, and Mark Lyman, Founding Director of the Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fairs (SOFA), now produces SOFA fairs in Chicago, New York and Santa Fe, the leading contemporary decorative art and design fairs in the world. They also produce The Intuit Outsider and Folk Art Fair, in Chicago, as well as The Spring Show NYC  for the Art and Antique Dealers League of America. The company also provides professional promotional and operational support to other art and antique fair producers.

 For additional information, visit www.theartfaircompany.com