NEW YORK, NY.- From May 10 to May 13 more than a dozen of the world’s leading dealers in antique tribal art from Africa, Oceania and the Americas will jointly show their most interesting acquisitions at the second annual 2012 AOA New York Africa Oceania Americas Tribal Art Fair at the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion at Fifth Avenue and 79th Street and at nearby galleries.

Tambaran gallery founder Maureen Zarember, who organized the first AOA New York Tribal Art Fair last year after Caskey Lees shuttered its show, says, “We had such important collectors visit and buy last year that there was no question New York was ready to host a world-class event featuring dealers of the highest caliber and reputation.”

Zarember points out that, “Many visitors told me that the caliber of the dealers in this fair was unmatched both in quality and expertise. In fact, in our inaugural year AOA New York created a level of excitement and expectation that encouraged all of our exhibiting dealers to bring the absolutely finest examples to this important new show. Many tell me they heard from long time clients and new ones that the opportunity to meet face to face with experts in each field provided a unique perspective on the current market.”

Claudia Giangola-Menser, an AOA New York first year exhibitor in 2011 is returning this year. A former Vice President of Sotheby’s Pre-Columbian Art Department, she says, “The AOA New York Tribal Art Fair in 2011 was extremely successful for us. Because of the more intimate setting of the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion at 79th Street and Fifth Avenue, rather than a cavernous armory venue, it was our impression it allowed clients to envision how pieces would look in their own environments.”

“We met and sold to many new clients from the United States and Europe and reconnected with several old clients whom we had not seen for a few years. We brought top-rate museum quality objects in order to emphasize that the level of material is not only available but also very affordable, particularly vis-à-vis to contemporary paintings and such. Significant museum curators visited the show, which is always extremely important.”

Among renowned tribal art dealers are: Carlo Bella of New York’s Pace Primitive; Claudia Giangola and John Menser of Ancient Art of the New World; Alaska on Madison’s Jack Bryan; Jeffrey Myers Primitive and Fine Arts; Gail Martin Gallery; the Paris-based Galerie Flak; Herma Visser and Galerie J. Visser of Belgium; Nasser and Co; and Tambaran Gallery. Also showing at AOA New York is Bernard Dulon; Earl Duncan; and John Giltsoff.

Carlo Bella, Director of Pace Primitive, says, “Pace Primitive is delighted to again participate in the AOA New York 2012 Fair. We will feature important examples of African and Oceanic figures and masks from outstanding American collections."

Heinrich C. Schweizer, Senior Vice President, Department Head, African and Oceanic Art, Sotheby’s says, “Sotheby’s African and Oceanic art department in New York welcomes Maureen Zarember’s initiative with AOA New York, an international art fair surrounding the most important auctions of Modern and Contemporary art, as we believe it satisfies the increasing demand of collectors in this rapidly growing field.”

“Every year in May, the world’s most important art collectors gather in New York to attend the auctions of Modern and Impressionist art. The cross-over between collectors of Modern and Contemporary art and African and Oceanic art is long established and very significant. Sotheby’s New York has strategically chosen May as the date for its important sales of African and Oceanic art, and re-established New York City as one of the two important international centers of sales of African and Oceanic art.”