Affordable Art Fair

The Affordable Art Fair: Art too good to leave behind

Alice Rowsome — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:00:40 +0000

The Affordable Art Fair will be returning this year to Battersea Park, London on 21 – 24 October 2010. There will be 120 galleries which will offer a stunning display of contemporay art from just £50 up to £3,000.

From established artists to the hottest new young talent – there will be so much choice you will be bound to find something you love. Whether you are looking for an old collector’s piece or a mantelpiece.

The AAF will feature many exciting events: including informative talks about collecting art and plenty of family-friendly activities.

The Recent Graduates’ Exhibition will present the best art pieces produced in British art schools. It will be the perfect opportunity to grab a unique and beautiful piece of work done by one of tomorrow’s potential stars.

The tickets will be available in September.

Affordable Art in 2008

tomh — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:58:41 +0000

Continuing with our art coverage this autumn, we went down to Battersea Park to get the low down on the preview evening of the the Affordable Art Fair.

Aptly named ‘affordable’ because you will not find a single piece over £3,000, and even then you’ll probably find a lot selling for less, it means you’ll be hard pushed not to find something within your price bracket.

For those who are looking for the next Banksy be sure to check out the Recent Graduates’ Exhibition to gaze at a diverse spectrum of talent springing up from the UK’s art schools.

We interviewed gallery owners Rebecca Hossack and Alison Honour , The Fine Art Partnership gallerist Rebecca Eames, and artist-in-residence Charlotte Hardy. We also speculated the future of art as investment with Will Ramsay, the founder of the Affordable Art Fair.

Tiffany Fairey of PhotoVoice talks about being the beneficiary charity for the preview night of the fair

We also mingled with the collectors and guests, asking them whether they thought art was a luxury or a necessity. Have a browse through the channel for more interviews.

Charlotte Hardy is artist of the house

tomh — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:11:45 +0000

Charlotte Hardy talks to t5m’s Bella Crane about bagging the spot as the artist in residence.

‘I did a wall illustration for a cafe in Highgate, a black line drawing on a 6m wall and I sent some pictures to Will’s Art Warehouse – the gallery who run the Affordable Art Fair.’

The gallery were obviously impressed with her piece and invited her to do a similar thing at the Affordable Art Fair.

‘This is a children’s workshop area and I’ve done some frames for them, as part of their self portrait idea, and on the opposite wall I’m going be creating a really indulgent cake hall, in this fancy black line drawing style.’

Not only are her drawings beautiful, but the crowds got to actually see her at work, which was all part of the yummy appeal.

Hannah Berry

Jessica Hall at the Affordable Art Fair

tomh — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:11:16 +0000

Curator of the Recent Graduates Exhibition at the Affordable Art Fair, Jessica Hall tells us how young artists make the cut.

‘It starts in middle of May, with the first of the BA shows, and basically I just go around as many degree shows as I can. It’s difficult because they often end around the same time but it’s about getting to as many as I can and as many outside of London as I can.’

The hard work obviously pays off and Hall managed to see a staggering 55 colleges in only 3 weeks. The result is a wealth of talent like the works from graduate artist, Harriet Maxwell, whose work is on the wall behind Hall as she talks.

‘She works directly from a photograph with an Irish embroidery machine. It’s as if she’s painting but she’s painting with stitch.’

Doherty on show

tomh — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:10:03 +0000

Recent graduate Aidan Doherty, from Wimbledon School of Art, tells t5m’s Bella Crane a little about the selection process for the graduate exhibition show at the Affordable Art Fair and why he chooses to be a contemporary artist, as opposed to a commercial artist.

Charitable voice

tomh — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:39:41 +0000

Founder of PhotoVoice, Tiffany Fairey, talks about being the beneficiary charity for the preview night of the Affordable Art Fair and finding your visual voice.

‘We use photography as a tool to enable socially excluded groups so, in a way, we’re about accessibility to the arts to inspire and create change,’ explains Fairey when she talks about similarities between her charity and the Affordable Art Fair.

Both form a platform for young and emerging artists and both are all about using arts and visual arts.

When talking more specifically about PhotoVoice, Fairey informs us that the idea is that youth document their lives and are given a voice through their own images and it’s the job of PhotoVoice to get their images seen.

Though it may only be a relatively small charity, with numerous awards under their belt and a multitude of worldwide exhibitions, it seems that they’re on the path to success.

Affordable Art Fair

Hannah Berry

Man about the home

tomh — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:31:28 +0000

Pia Munden walks and talks with t5m’s Bella Crane as they discuss what is on offer at the Artphiló gallery, at the Affordable Art Fair.

When it comes to buying for the home, it tends to be a female dominated market. However, Rolf Lorenz’s piece, entitled ‘Monolith to Dialogue: – Monday‘, provides a great example of a piece that might appeal to the male shoppers at the fair.

‘The use of colours are quite strong and it’s lovely for men. It’s all about making a space that you’re proud of and really love.’

Affordable Art Fair

Hannah Berry

Colour factor

tomh — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:59:46 +0000

Mydeco’s Pia Munden lends her creative vision to t5m’s Bella Crane at the Affordable Art Fair.

‘These colour photographs are a lovely example of what is really affordable and would look fabulous in interior, especially if you have a very neutral interior. You can then really draw your ideas from something like this.’

Pia is referring to the photos featured on the Rathbone gallery stall, which really have the ‘wow’ factor to stand out.

Affordable Art Fair

Luxurious necessity

tomh — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:51:01 +0000

Bella Crane ventured around the Affordable Art Fair to find out whether art at the moment is ‘a luxury or a necessity?’

‘Oh my God. It’s a necessity, such a necessity,’ cries Rebecca Hossack of the Rebecca Hossack Art Gallery. ‘That’s all I have, I have nothing but beautiful paintings and books.’

Feelings are mixed, but it seems that the majority lean towards a middle ground. So a luxurious necessity or necessary luxury, you decide.

Affordable Art Fair

Print to a fine art

tomh — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:35:40 +0000

It is only natural to think that you need big bucks if you want to bag yourself a work by a big name. However, Rebecca Eames from Brighton-based The Fine Art Partnership explains it’s not always the case.

‘There are still some fabulous things around; original screen prints, etchings by major artists like Julian Opie that are still affordable,’ she says as she stands in front of one of Opie’s works entitled ‘Cityscape’.

Not only a steal at under £3,000 but with a name like Julian Opie in your collection, it is also an amazing investment for the future.

Affordable Art Fair

Hannah Berry