Art Elite

THE SETTING The fifth annual Dallas Art Fair kicked off with a Champagne-filled preview gala, where fashionably dressed revelers checked out the goods from some 80 international and national galleries­—all at Fashion Industry Gallery, aka f.i.g. THE SCENE This year’s opening night affair, sponsored by the ever-pouring Ruinart, benefited the Dallas Contemporary, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and for the first time, the Dallas Museum of Art. From there, f.i.g. was open all weekend for patrons and collectors to peruse both the well-known­—think Warhol­—and the new, with many up-and-coming artists on display. THE CROWD Co-founders Chris Byrne and John Sughrue welcomed gallerists from New York to Japan and everywhere in between, without forgetting about the host city. Local galleries Conduit Gallery, Talley Dunn, Valley House, Barry Whistler and others were all on hand. Guests included Steve and Lauren Christensen, Jennifer and John Eagle, Jennifer Karol, Pierre Levai, Halina von Kempski Rakoszyn, John Runyon, Capera Ryan and Christen Wilson. Photography by Jason Acton and Paul Laster