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T he Dallas art world showed up en masse for early access to Dallas Art Fair 2021 — the former rite of spring that had pivoted to fall during a challenging year. But the Dallas Art Fair never loses its luster, and art lovers were intent on acquiring. This night's guests gained first glimpse of the first- and second- floor galleries at FIG, studded with works from nearly 60 galleries that represent the best of Texas — Dallas galleries Conduit Gallery, Valley House Gallery & Sculpture Garden, Cris Worley Fine Arts, Liliana Bloch Gallery, Gallery 12.26, Erin Cluley Gallery, P.O.A. Projects, Galleri Urbane, Oliver Francis Gallery/OFG, and Sputnik Modern; Fort Worth's William Campbell Gallery; and Houston's Bill Arning Exhibitions, Inman Gallery, and Sicardi Ayers Bacino — as well as transatlantic dealers from Florence, London, Milan, and beyond. Dallas Art Fair co-founder John Sugrue with wife Marlene, as well as DAF brass Kelly Cornell and Sarah Blagden, kept a sharp eye on the business of art. Proceeds from the night's ticket sales benefited the Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, and Dallas Contemporary. A highlight of the preview night is seeing the works the Dallas Museum of Art acquires for its permanent collection. This year's acquisitions include works by Sarah Cain, Johnny Floyd, Danielle Mckinney, Jordan Nassar, Susan Weil and Carrie Yamaoka. Post-opening, exhibitors and VIPs beamed up the private glass elevator to the terrace level of The Joule, where the space had been transformed into a lush club paradise with magnolia trees, orchids, paper flowers, and painted palms devised by GRO Floral & Event Design and concepted by Jeny Bania, CMO of Headington Companies. Spotted: Artists Nic Nicosia, Heyd Fontenot, Francisco Moreno and Darry Ratcliff; Caledonia Curry, the artist known as Swoon (Curry's large-scale dioramic work The House Our Families Built appeared in Klyde Warren Park as part of the fair); as well as Ashley Tatum, Megan and Brady Wood, Debbie Green, David Liu, Deborah Scott, John Runyon, Alden Pinnell, and Jordan Jones. This year's Dallas Art Fair returns this spring: Thursday through Sunday, April 21 through 24, with a VIP reception Thursday, April 21, 4 to 8 pm. CQUIRING ART A OF A FRENZIED OPENING NIGHT AND LUSH ROOFTOP AFTER-PARTY KICKED OFF DALLAS ART FAIR'S RETURN. By Caitlin Clark. Photography Exploredinary. Erin Cluley Cris Worley, Agustín Arteaga Jordan Jones Munoz Karen Jones Caledonia Curry, the artist known as Swoon Bill Arning Earlina Green Hamilton Jennifer Klos Neon artwork by Alicia Eggert Francisco Moreno Kelly Cornell John & Marlene Sughrue 38