Image: Big Bend Times rendering Marfa Invitational’s outdoor art space showing approximately how the assembled “Sleeping Figure” sculpture will look.
The Marfa Invitational, a renowned annual art fair in West Texas, is shrouded in uncertainty as questions loom over whether the event will return in 2024. Since its launch in 2019 by artist Michael Phelan, the Marfa Invitational has been a significant cultural gathering, showcasing art outside the commercial confines of New York and Los Angeles.
Typically, by this time of year, details about the upcoming 2024 event would have been announced. However, the organization has chosen to remain tight-lipped about its plans, leaving both art enthusiasts and the community in the dark.
The recent turmoil began when it was revealed that the Marfa Invitational had lost its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) earlier this year due to a failure to submit 990 taxes for three consecutive years. This revelation sent shockwaves through the art community and raised concerns about the organization’s financial management.
One notable development during this period of uncertainty is the donation of an impressive sculpture titled “Sleeping Figure.” Los Angeles-based artist Matt Johnson gifted this striking 150-foot-long by 40-foot-tall sculpture, constructed from 12 shipping containers, to the foundation. However, this remarkable piece currently sits disassembled on a five-acre site just outside Marfa, where Michael Phelan has ambitious plans to create a sculpture park and a permanent space for the foundation.
Despite this large artistic contribution, the focus remains on whether the Marfa Invitational will make a return in 2024. The organization’s silence has prompted questions and speculation within the art world and the local community alike.
Efforts to obtain clarity have been met with a resounding silence. The Big Bend Times attempted to reach out to Michael Phelan for answers but received no response. With the lack of communication and transparency surrounding the future of the Marfa Invitational, uncertainty continues to loom large.
The community eagerly awaits official word from the organization, as its future hangs in the balance. The question remains: Will the Marfa Invitational return for its 2024 edition, or has it encountered insurmountable challenges amidst allegations of fund mismanagement and the loss of nonprofit status? Until the organizers break their silence, the fate of this once-prominent art fair remains a mystery.
