London Art Fairs

London Art Fairs

09 October, 2009
by: Tom Jeffreys

Spoonfed's guide to all of London's many art fairs, 2010.

Yes, it's nearly here again. The distended corporate megalith that is Frieze Art Fair plonks its bad self down in Regent's Park for a whole week of free Pommery, anxious back-slapping and mega-bucks art sales. The world's most influential curators, critics and eccentric billionaires are descending upon our fair city, threatening to crush us all under the great tasselled loafer of wealth. “Get out my way paupers, I've got art to see!”

With the final instalment of the Free Art Fair taking place last year and Zoo Art Fair on an indefinite break, 2010 sees Frieze even more dominant than usual. But that doesn't mean it's the only fair taking place in London. There's all manner of other fairs and festivals, from the tiny to the titanic.

Here's our guide to all forthcoming London Art Fairs:

7th-11th October 2010
Art London
If you're after fairly classic but beautifully rendered painting or sculpture then Art London in the Royal Hospital Chelsea is the fair for you. Art London features work by some3 of the biggest names in modernBritish art, presented in a friendly and approachable atmosphere.

14th-16th October 2010
SUNDAY Art Fair
For the first time, SUNDAY Art Fair comes to London this year, well timed to coincide with Frieze - handily located too, in the colossal underground hangar that is P3. The fair has an international and cosmopolitan flavour - there's galleries from London, Zurich, Berlin, Amsterdam, Tokyo, New York and plenty of others. Expect a focus on the cutting edge and conceptual, and works by the likes of Edwina Ashton, Wolfgang Breuer, Kit Craig, Ryan GanderJack Strange and Richard Wilson.


14th-17th October 2010
Frieze Art Fair
Whatever one's opinion's there's no escaping Frieze Art Fair – it's quite simply the biggest event in London's contemporary art calendar. It features more than 150 contemporary art galleries, each with their own stand from which to peddle their wares to the world's richest and most influential art collectors. As well as the obvious sales element, Frieze Art Fair also features a packed programme of events, performances, special commissions and artists' projects.

14th-17th October 2010
MONIKER
So with Zoo Art Fair taking a break in 2010 it's up to new kid on the block, Moniker, to try and challenge the annual Frieze hegemony. Picking up where Kounter Kulture left off the aim is to showcase street art - one feels they may have missed the boom times on this one, but if you like graff and stencils and stuff then you really will love this.

21st-24th October 2010
Affordable Art Fair
The Affordable Art Fair hits Battersea Park this week with the usual range of art across all media on sale for between £50 and £3,000. There's a good combination of established names and emerging talent, meaning that this is a great place for collectors (from entry-level to experienced) and for any fan of art whatever your income.


19th-23rd January 2011
London Art Fair
Taking place in the Business Design Centre, the London Art Fair is one of the UK's most extensive and best established Modern British and Contemporary art fair. There is always a staggering range of work on offer, from painting to video, drawing to photography and installation. Visitors range from serious collectors to the merely curious, and prices vary accordingly: museum quality pieces can fetch millions, but there are also works available for as little as £50.


Return to Spoonfed's London Art homepage.
Return to Spoonfed's London Art Fairs homepage.
Click here to see all London exhibitions.

Tom Jeffreys