The second edition of the Atlanta Art Fair was once again held at Pullman Yards and built off the momentum of its inaugural edition last year, welcoming more than 60 exhibitors and north of 12,000 visitors over the course of its four-day run. Positioned as a cultural catalyst for both the city and region, gallery exhibitors included hailed from both local and international art scenes, and a wide-ranging series of public programming—from panels and talks to site-specific installations and performances—offered a new dimension to the art fair model.

For the 2025 edition, longtime art world professional Melissa Messina was invited to guest curate a special presentation.

“As Guest Curator of this year’s Atlanta Art Fairs,” said Messina, “I had the pleasure of presenting ‘Third Ear, Second Skin,’ a presentation of sculptural installations by Krista Clark, Sonya Yong James, and Vadis Turner—three Southeastern-based artists whose materially driven practices explore embodiment through abstraction. While installing my own project, I spent time exploring the galleries, discovering new work, and reconnecting with artists whose practices continue to inspire me.”

Below, Messina rounds up her highlights from the fair.

Guest Curator Melissa Messina. Courtesy of AMP/Atlanta Art Fair.

Curtis Patterson at Laney Contemporary (Savannah)

With a sharp focus on contemporary art and talent from the South, Laney Contemporary presented four artists who are either from or based in the state of Georgia, reflecting a range of medium engagement. Paintings by Will Penny and Betsy Cain, photography by Ansley West Rivers, and sculpture by Curtis Patterson were on view and offered insight into the creative range present in the region.

“It was a joy to see Patterson’s work included. My former professor at the Atlanta College of Art, he has been creating stellar sculptures for decades and deserves much broader recognition.”

Curtis Patterson, A Notable Journey (2019). Courtesy of Laney Contemporary.

Victoria Dugger at Black Women in Visual Art (Atlanta)

Black Women in Visual Art staged a presentation focused on three artists—Ariel Dannielle, Candace Caston, and Victoria Dugger—that illuminated the gallery’s core mission of elevating and championing Black women in the arts, and invited viewers into the creative vision of new generations of creatives from Atlanta.

For Messina, Dugger’s work was a clear standout: “Dugger just won the Hudgens Prize and also participated in New Worlds, an exhibition I curated at Atlanta Contemporary a few years ago. It’s exciting to see her practice continue to flourish.”

Candace Caston, Pacu (2025). Courtesy of Black Women in Visual Art.

Kimia Ferdowsi Kline at Tinney Contemporary (Nashville)

Marking its debut with the fair, Tinney Contemporary brought work by Tiffany Calvert, Kimia Ferdowsi Kline, Lovie Olivia, and Esther Ruis, all artists whose work engages with themes of art history. Tapping specifically into materiality, the works questioned commonly held assumptions around the past and its role in contemporary perspectives.

Messina noted, “Introduced to me by [artist] Vadis Turner, Ferdowski Kline’s sculptural works are seductive and commanding. Her use of form and material captivate me.”

Kimia Ferdowsi Kline, Leave a Light On (2025). Courtesy of Tinney Contemporary.

Roscoe Hall at Sheet Cake Gallery (Memphis)

Bringing together the work of artists Roscoe Hall, Stephanie Howard, Andrea Morales, and Althea Murphy-Price, Sheet Cake Gallery’s presentation brought forth a dialogue around representation, modes of abstraction, and contemporary iconography.

“I was delighted to encounter Roscoe Hall’s work,” Messina noted. “A painter and a chef, his practice resonates across disciplines. His presentation with Sheet Cake Gallery—an emerging program recently spotlighted at the Armory Show—was both dynamic and memorable.”

Installation view of Sheet Cake Gallery presentation. Courtesy of AMP/Atlanta Art Fair.

Atlanta Photography Group (Atlanta)

“My pick for best-curated booth,” Messina said of Atlanta Photography Group. “It struck the perfect balance between honoring Georgia’s photographic lineage and showcasing new voices. I loved seeing longtime Atlanta practitioners like Royce Soble alongside striking newcomers such as Kelli Shae Coker from LaGrange.”

Allison Plass, Taking Flight (2024). Courtesy of the Atlanta Photography Group.

Open Editions (San Francisco)

A rising presence within the art fair scene, Open Editions curates artist-designed objects, bridging art and the everyday.

“For many visitors, an art fair can be their very first step into collecting. I love that Open Editions makes this possible in a thoughtful, approachable way—with beautifully designed objects like hand-stitched bags, ceramic mugs, and picnic blankets that double as functional art.”

Installation view of Open Editions. Photo: Sara Hanna. Courtesy of AMP/Atlanta Art Fair.

Together, the presentations across the fair provided a cohesive look into the state of contemporary art today—and offered a glimpse at what might be to come in forthcoming editions.

“The Atlanta Art Fair has already established itself as a vital platform for connecting regional and national voices,” said Messina. “For me, it was exciting to see how artists from across the Southeast and beyond are pushing boundaries aesthetically and conceptually and building community through art and exhibition making.”

Learn more about the Atlanta Art Fair here.