Why you should visit the London Art Fair this year
It’s cold outside, and there has to be a good enough reason to get out of bed. Thankfully, the London Art Fair this year is your reason
By
Rhea Mathur
January 23, 2025
With over a hundred and twenty participating galleries worldwide and more than a thousand artists on show, attending the London Art Fair is a fantastic start to the new year. Founded in 1989, the fair takes place in January every year at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington. Rich with not just modern and contemporary art, the fair programme also includes talks regarding the relationships between art and technology- social media, AI, art and healthcare, and public art's future. Bringing together new and old galleries alike, the London Art Fair stands out as an excellent opportunity for both artists and art lovers to begin the new year, celebrating and looking at all that has been accomplished in the previous year and understanding what is to come.
In a conversation with Olivier Waltman, founder of his eponymous gallery, he mentions that curating his booth for the fair always includes works currently on display at the gallery. Talking about the fair itself, he describes it as a place where everyone comes together to view and understand contemporary art, not just art collectors and those working in the arts. He adds that putting all the galleries together in one large building further facilitates this ease of understanding and communication. The audience simply walks from one booth to another in the exact location, under the same roof, giving it structure and allowing visitors to realistically view most of the works in the six-day long fair. “London Art Fair is accessible, Frieze is conceptual”, Waltman states, explaining the art fair allows new, budding galleries and artists to access the often difficult-to-navigate art world.
At the centre of his booth is a large oil painting on canvas titled Happy Family, made by Dayron Gonzalez. Using striking colours, Gonzalez recreates a family portrait, blurring the faces and allowing his works a sense of anonymity and universality. The bold shades of orange, pink and yellow take over the canvas and aesthetically are visually pleasing. “The artist is happy if you just like the colours”, Waltman says with a grin. There is much detail to divulge within the painting, but within the hustle and bustle of the fair, the composition and colours draw the eyes and keep them until the viewer shakes free.
Walking through the fair, what is surprising to see is the interest this year in not just paintings but sculptures, prints, ceramics, pottery and textiles. Alveston Fine Arts, a gallery based in London’s Notting Hill founded by Fergus Downey in 2016, offers such a diverse collection. “The aim of the gallery has always been to give back. Downey helps young artists generate income by purchasing their works and then helping them slowly build a reputation and credibility in the business. He focuses on artists who exploit their canvas or their medium, ensuring they insert as much of their personality as they can into the works and truly take it to the next level”, says Giulia Giuliani, a representative of the Gallery. The Gallery’s most celebrated artists, Vicky Lindo and William Brookes, are not only instrumental in the creation of the Gallery but also in the booth at the London Art Fair. “Brookes creates the shape of these vases, complete with the handles, and Vindo then decorates them. They have had a collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum for over a year, and they were the first artists at Alveston, so they are special to us. The intricate detailing in their work and the mesmerising colours sets the artists apart and makes them masters of their craft”, Giuliani adds.
The two talks held on the first day, a VIP Preview of the Fair, included What happened when the National Gallery invited 200 influencers to celebrate its bicentenary?, moderated by The Art Newspaper columnist Aimee Dawson and Redefining Museums for the Future, a conversation between Edward Behrens, Editor of the Apollo and Jago Cooper, Executive Director of the Sainsbury Centre. This also allowed an opportunity for the audience to hear from Adwoa Botchey and Solomon, the creative couple behind the Instagram handle - @adeche.atelier, who worked with the National Gallery for their bicentenary and, through their work, champion stories of African mythology and folklore. The conversations were an exciting opportunity for artists, art lovers and people within the arts to reimagine the art world's future together.
“Wasn’t yesterday voted one of the most depressing days of the year? I don’t know, I am just glad I am here and excited about the coming year instead”, stated a budding artist after attending a talk, albeit with a glass of white wine in her hand. With more panel discussions on the schedule for the coming days, the London Art Fair is the best place to see, feel and understand contemporary art this week. Each booth bursts with ideas and creativity, leaving everyone invigorated and creatively charged.
With over a hundred and twenty participating galleries worldwide and more than a thousand artists on show, attending the London Art Fair is a fantastic start to the new year. Founded in 1989, the fair takes place in January every year at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington. Rich with not just modern and contemporary art, the fair programme also includes talks regarding the relationships between art and technology- social media, AI, art and healthcare, and public art's future. Bringing together new and old galleries alike, the London Art Fair stands out as an excellent opportunity for both artists and art lovers to begin the new year, celebrating and looking at all that has been accomplished in the previous year and understanding what is to come.
In a conversation with Olivier Waltman, founder of his eponymous gallery, he mentions that curating his booth for the fair always includes works currently on display at the gallery. Talking about the fair itself, he describes it as a place where everyone comes together to view and understand contemporary art, not just art collectors and those working in the arts. He adds that putting all the galleries together in one large building further facilitates this ease of understanding and communication. The audience simply walks from one booth to another in the exact location, under the same roof, giving it structure and allowing visitors to realistically view most of the works in the six-day long fair. “London Art Fair is accessible, Frieze is conceptual”, Waltman states, explaining the art fair allows new, budding galleries and artists to access the often difficult-to-navigate art world.
At the centre of his booth is a large oil painting on canvas titled Happy Family, made by Dayron Gonzalez. Using striking colours, Gonzalez recreates a family portrait, blurring the faces and allowing his works a sense of anonymity and universality. The bold shades of orange, pink and yellow take over the canvas and aesthetically are visually pleasing. “The artist is happy if you just like the colours”, Waltman says with a grin. There is much detail to divulge within the painting, but within the hustle and bustle of the fair, the composition and colours draw the eyes and keep them until the viewer shakes free.
Walking through the fair, what is surprising to see is the interest this year in not just paintings but sculptures, prints, ceramics, pottery and textiles. Alveston Fine Arts, a gallery based in London’s Notting Hill founded by Fergus Downey in 2016, offers such a diverse collection. “The aim of the gallery has always been to give back. Downey helps young artists generate income by purchasing their works and then helping them slowly build a reputation and credibility in the business. He focuses on artists who exploit their canvas or their medium, ensuring they insert as much of their personality as they can into the works and truly take it to the next level”, says Giulia Giuliani, a representative of the Gallery. The Gallery’s most celebrated artists, Vicky Lindo and William Brookes, are not only instrumental in the creation of the Gallery but also in the booth at the London Art Fair. “Brookes creates the shape of these vases, complete with the handles, and Vindo then decorates them. They have had a collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum for over a year, and they were the first artists at Alveston, so they are special to us. The intricate detailing in their work and the mesmerising colours sets the artists apart and makes them masters of their craft”, Giuliani adds.
The two talks held on the first day, a VIP Preview of the Fair, included What happened when the National Gallery invited 200 influencers to celebrate its bicentenary?, moderated by The Art Newspaper columnist Aimee Dawson and Redefining Museums for the Future, a conversation between Edward Behrens, Editor of the Apollo and Jago Cooper, Executive Director of the Sainsbury Centre. This also allowed an opportunity for the audience to hear from Adwoa Botchey and Solomon, the creative couple behind the Instagram handle - @adeche.atelier, who worked with the National Gallery for their bicentenary and, through their work, champion stories of African mythology and folklore. The conversations were an exciting opportunity for artists, art lovers and people within the arts to reimagine the art world's future together.
“Wasn’t yesterday voted one of the most depressing days of the year? I don’t know, I am just glad I am here and excited about the coming year instead”, stated a budding artist after attending a talk, albeit with a glass of white wine in her hand. With more panel discussions on the schedule for the coming days, the London Art Fair is the best place to see, feel and understand contemporary art this week. Each booth bursts with ideas and creativity, leaving everyone invigorated and creatively charged.
With over a hundred and twenty participating galleries worldwide and more than a thousand artists on show, attending the London Art Fair is a fantastic start to the new year. Founded in 1989, the fair takes place in January every year at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington. Rich with not just modern and contemporary art, the fair programme also includes talks regarding the relationships between art and technology- social media, AI, art and healthcare, and public art's future. Bringing together new and old galleries alike, the London Art Fair stands out as an excellent opportunity for both artists and art lovers to begin the new year, celebrating and looking at all that has been accomplished in the previous year and understanding what is to come.
In a conversation with Olivier Waltman, founder of his eponymous gallery, he mentions that curating his booth for the fair always includes works currently on display at the gallery. Talking about the fair itself, he describes it as a place where everyone comes together to view and understand contemporary art, not just art collectors and those working in the arts. He adds that putting all the galleries together in one large building further facilitates this ease of understanding and communication. The audience simply walks from one booth to another in the exact location, under the same roof, giving it structure and allowing visitors to realistically view most of the works in the six-day long fair. “London Art Fair is accessible, Frieze is conceptual”, Waltman states, explaining the art fair allows new, budding galleries and artists to access the often difficult-to-navigate art world.
At the centre of his booth is a large oil painting on canvas titled Happy Family, made by Dayron Gonzalez. Using striking colours, Gonzalez recreates a family portrait, blurring the faces and allowing his works a sense of anonymity and universality. The bold shades of orange, pink and yellow take over the canvas and aesthetically are visually pleasing. “The artist is happy if you just like the colours”, Waltman says with a grin. There is much detail to divulge within the painting, but within the hustle and bustle of the fair, the composition and colours draw the eyes and keep them until the viewer shakes free.
Walking through the fair, what is surprising to see is the interest this year in not just paintings but sculptures, prints, ceramics, pottery and textiles. Alveston Fine Arts, a gallery based in London’s Notting Hill founded by Fergus Downey in 2016, offers such a diverse collection. “The aim of the gallery has always been to give back. Downey helps young artists generate income by purchasing their works and then helping them slowly build a reputation and credibility in the business. He focuses on artists who exploit their canvas or their medium, ensuring they insert as much of their personality as they can into the works and truly take it to the next level”, says Giulia Giuliani, a representative of the Gallery. The Gallery’s most celebrated artists, Vicky Lindo and William Brookes, are not only instrumental in the creation of the Gallery but also in the booth at the London Art Fair. “Brookes creates the shape of these vases, complete with the handles, and Vindo then decorates them. They have had a collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum for over a year, and they were the first artists at Alveston, so they are special to us. The intricate detailing in their work and the mesmerising colours sets the artists apart and makes them masters of their craft”, Giuliani adds.
The two talks held on the first day, a VIP Preview of the Fair, included What happened when the National Gallery invited 200 influencers to celebrate its bicentenary?, moderated by The Art Newspaper columnist Aimee Dawson and Redefining Museums for the Future, a conversation between Edward Behrens, Editor of the Apollo and Jago Cooper, Executive Director of the Sainsbury Centre. This also allowed an opportunity for the audience to hear from Adwoa Botchey and Solomon, the creative couple behind the Instagram handle - @adeche.atelier, who worked with the National Gallery for their bicentenary and, through their work, champion stories of African mythology and folklore. The conversations were an exciting opportunity for artists, art lovers and people within the arts to reimagine the art world's future together.
“Wasn’t yesterday voted one of the most depressing days of the year? I don’t know, I am just glad I am here and excited about the coming year instead”, stated a budding artist after attending a talk, albeit with a glass of white wine in her hand. With more panel discussions on the schedule for the coming days, the London Art Fair is the best place to see, feel and understand contemporary art this week. Each booth bursts with ideas and creativity, leaving everyone invigorated and creatively charged.
With over a hundred and twenty participating galleries worldwide and more than a thousand artists on show, attending the London Art Fair is a fantastic start to the new year. Founded in 1989, the fair takes place in January every year at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington. Rich with not just modern and contemporary art, the fair programme also includes talks regarding the relationships between art and technology- social media, AI, art and healthcare, and public art's future. Bringing together new and old galleries alike, the London Art Fair stands out as an excellent opportunity for both artists and art lovers to begin the new year, celebrating and looking at all that has been accomplished in the previous year and understanding what is to come.
In a conversation with Olivier Waltman, founder of his eponymous gallery, he mentions that curating his booth for the fair always includes works currently on display at the gallery. Talking about the fair itself, he describes it as a place where everyone comes together to view and understand contemporary art, not just art collectors and those working in the arts. He adds that putting all the galleries together in one large building further facilitates this ease of understanding and communication. The audience simply walks from one booth to another in the exact location, under the same roof, giving it structure and allowing visitors to realistically view most of the works in the six-day long fair. “London Art Fair is accessible, Frieze is conceptual”, Waltman states, explaining the art fair allows new, budding galleries and artists to access the often difficult-to-navigate art world.
At the centre of his booth is a large oil painting on canvas titled Happy Family, made by Dayron Gonzalez. Using striking colours, Gonzalez recreates a family portrait, blurring the faces and allowing his works a sense of anonymity and universality. The bold shades of orange, pink and yellow take over the canvas and aesthetically are visually pleasing. “The artist is happy if you just like the colours”, Waltman says with a grin. There is much detail to divulge within the painting, but within the hustle and bustle of the fair, the composition and colours draw the eyes and keep them until the viewer shakes free.
Walking through the fair, what is surprising to see is the interest this year in not just paintings but sculptures, prints, ceramics, pottery and textiles. Alveston Fine Arts, a gallery based in London’s Notting Hill founded by Fergus Downey in 2016, offers such a diverse collection. “The aim of the gallery has always been to give back. Downey helps young artists generate income by purchasing their works and then helping them slowly build a reputation and credibility in the business. He focuses on artists who exploit their canvas or their medium, ensuring they insert as much of their personality as they can into the works and truly take it to the next level”, says Giulia Giuliani, a representative of the Gallery. The Gallery’s most celebrated artists, Vicky Lindo and William Brookes, are not only instrumental in the creation of the Gallery but also in the booth at the London Art Fair. “Brookes creates the shape of these vases, complete with the handles, and Vindo then decorates them. They have had a collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum for over a year, and they were the first artists at Alveston, so they are special to us. The intricate detailing in their work and the mesmerising colours sets the artists apart and makes them masters of their craft”, Giuliani adds.
The two talks held on the first day, a VIP Preview of the Fair, included What happened when the National Gallery invited 200 influencers to celebrate its bicentenary?, moderated by The Art Newspaper columnist Aimee Dawson and Redefining Museums for the Future, a conversation between Edward Behrens, Editor of the Apollo and Jago Cooper, Executive Director of the Sainsbury Centre. This also allowed an opportunity for the audience to hear from Adwoa Botchey and Solomon, the creative couple behind the Instagram handle - @adeche.atelier, who worked with the National Gallery for their bicentenary and, through their work, champion stories of African mythology and folklore. The conversations were an exciting opportunity for artists, art lovers and people within the arts to reimagine the art world's future together.
“Wasn’t yesterday voted one of the most depressing days of the year? I don’t know, I am just glad I am here and excited about the coming year instead”, stated a budding artist after attending a talk, albeit with a glass of white wine in her hand. With more panel discussions on the schedule for the coming days, the London Art Fair is the best place to see, feel and understand contemporary art this week. Each booth bursts with ideas and creativity, leaving everyone invigorated and creatively charged.
With over a hundred and twenty participating galleries worldwide and more than a thousand artists on show, attending the London Art Fair is a fantastic start to the new year. Founded in 1989, the fair takes place in January every year at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington. Rich with not just modern and contemporary art, the fair programme also includes talks regarding the relationships between art and technology- social media, AI, art and healthcare, and public art's future. Bringing together new and old galleries alike, the London Art Fair stands out as an excellent opportunity for both artists and art lovers to begin the new year, celebrating and looking at all that has been accomplished in the previous year and understanding what is to come.
In a conversation with Olivier Waltman, founder of his eponymous gallery, he mentions that curating his booth for the fair always includes works currently on display at the gallery. Talking about the fair itself, he describes it as a place where everyone comes together to view and understand contemporary art, not just art collectors and those working in the arts. He adds that putting all the galleries together in one large building further facilitates this ease of understanding and communication. The audience simply walks from one booth to another in the exact location, under the same roof, giving it structure and allowing visitors to realistically view most of the works in the six-day long fair. “London Art Fair is accessible, Frieze is conceptual”, Waltman states, explaining the art fair allows new, budding galleries and artists to access the often difficult-to-navigate art world.
At the centre of his booth is a large oil painting on canvas titled Happy Family, made by Dayron Gonzalez. Using striking colours, Gonzalez recreates a family portrait, blurring the faces and allowing his works a sense of anonymity and universality. The bold shades of orange, pink and yellow take over the canvas and aesthetically are visually pleasing. “The artist is happy if you just like the colours”, Waltman says with a grin. There is much detail to divulge within the painting, but within the hustle and bustle of the fair, the composition and colours draw the eyes and keep them until the viewer shakes free.
Walking through the fair, what is surprising to see is the interest this year in not just paintings but sculptures, prints, ceramics, pottery and textiles. Alveston Fine Arts, a gallery based in London’s Notting Hill founded by Fergus Downey in 2016, offers such a diverse collection. “The aim of the gallery has always been to give back. Downey helps young artists generate income by purchasing their works and then helping them slowly build a reputation and credibility in the business. He focuses on artists who exploit their canvas or their medium, ensuring they insert as much of their personality as they can into the works and truly take it to the next level”, says Giulia Giuliani, a representative of the Gallery. The Gallery’s most celebrated artists, Vicky Lindo and William Brookes, are not only instrumental in the creation of the Gallery but also in the booth at the London Art Fair. “Brookes creates the shape of these vases, complete with the handles, and Vindo then decorates them. They have had a collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum for over a year, and they were the first artists at Alveston, so they are special to us. The intricate detailing in their work and the mesmerising colours sets the artists apart and makes them masters of their craft”, Giuliani adds.
The two talks held on the first day, a VIP Preview of the Fair, included What happened when the National Gallery invited 200 influencers to celebrate its bicentenary?, moderated by The Art Newspaper columnist Aimee Dawson and Redefining Museums for the Future, a conversation between Edward Behrens, Editor of the Apollo and Jago Cooper, Executive Director of the Sainsbury Centre. This also allowed an opportunity for the audience to hear from Adwoa Botchey and Solomon, the creative couple behind the Instagram handle - @adeche.atelier, who worked with the National Gallery for their bicentenary and, through their work, champion stories of African mythology and folklore. The conversations were an exciting opportunity for artists, art lovers and people within the arts to reimagine the art world's future together.
“Wasn’t yesterday voted one of the most depressing days of the year? I don’t know, I am just glad I am here and excited about the coming year instead”, stated a budding artist after attending a talk, albeit with a glass of white wine in her hand. With more panel discussions on the schedule for the coming days, the London Art Fair is the best place to see, feel and understand contemporary art this week. Each booth bursts with ideas and creativity, leaving everyone invigorated and creatively charged.
With over a hundred and twenty participating galleries worldwide and more than a thousand artists on show, attending the London Art Fair is a fantastic start to the new year. Founded in 1989, the fair takes place in January every year at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington. Rich with not just modern and contemporary art, the fair programme also includes talks regarding the relationships between art and technology- social media, AI, art and healthcare, and public art's future. Bringing together new and old galleries alike, the London Art Fair stands out as an excellent opportunity for both artists and art lovers to begin the new year, celebrating and looking at all that has been accomplished in the previous year and understanding what is to come.
In a conversation with Olivier Waltman, founder of his eponymous gallery, he mentions that curating his booth for the fair always includes works currently on display at the gallery. Talking about the fair itself, he describes it as a place where everyone comes together to view and understand contemporary art, not just art collectors and those working in the arts. He adds that putting all the galleries together in one large building further facilitates this ease of understanding and communication. The audience simply walks from one booth to another in the exact location, under the same roof, giving it structure and allowing visitors to realistically view most of the works in the six-day long fair. “London Art Fair is accessible, Frieze is conceptual”, Waltman states, explaining the art fair allows new, budding galleries and artists to access the often difficult-to-navigate art world.
At the centre of his booth is a large oil painting on canvas titled Happy Family, made by Dayron Gonzalez. Using striking colours, Gonzalez recreates a family portrait, blurring the faces and allowing his works a sense of anonymity and universality. The bold shades of orange, pink and yellow take over the canvas and aesthetically are visually pleasing. “The artist is happy if you just like the colours”, Waltman says with a grin. There is much detail to divulge within the painting, but within the hustle and bustle of the fair, the composition and colours draw the eyes and keep them until the viewer shakes free.
Walking through the fair, what is surprising to see is the interest this year in not just paintings but sculptures, prints, ceramics, pottery and textiles. Alveston Fine Arts, a gallery based in London’s Notting Hill founded by Fergus Downey in 2016, offers such a diverse collection. “The aim of the gallery has always been to give back. Downey helps young artists generate income by purchasing their works and then helping them slowly build a reputation and credibility in the business. He focuses on artists who exploit their canvas or their medium, ensuring they insert as much of their personality as they can into the works and truly take it to the next level”, says Giulia Giuliani, a representative of the Gallery. The Gallery’s most celebrated artists, Vicky Lindo and William Brookes, are not only instrumental in the creation of the Gallery but also in the booth at the London Art Fair. “Brookes creates the shape of these vases, complete with the handles, and Vindo then decorates them. They have had a collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum for over a year, and they were the first artists at Alveston, so they are special to us. The intricate detailing in their work and the mesmerising colours sets the artists apart and makes them masters of their craft”, Giuliani adds.
The two talks held on the first day, a VIP Preview of the Fair, included What happened when the National Gallery invited 200 influencers to celebrate its bicentenary?, moderated by The Art Newspaper columnist Aimee Dawson and Redefining Museums for the Future, a conversation between Edward Behrens, Editor of the Apollo and Jago Cooper, Executive Director of the Sainsbury Centre. This also allowed an opportunity for the audience to hear from Adwoa Botchey and Solomon, the creative couple behind the Instagram handle - @adeche.atelier, who worked with the National Gallery for their bicentenary and, through their work, champion stories of African mythology and folklore. The conversations were an exciting opportunity for artists, art lovers and people within the arts to reimagine the art world's future together.
“Wasn’t yesterday voted one of the most depressing days of the year? I don’t know, I am just glad I am here and excited about the coming year instead”, stated a budding artist after attending a talk, albeit with a glass of white wine in her hand. With more panel discussions on the schedule for the coming days, the London Art Fair is the best place to see, feel and understand contemporary art this week. Each booth bursts with ideas and creativity, leaving everyone invigorated and creatively charged.
With over a hundred and twenty participating galleries worldwide and more than a thousand artists on show, attending the London Art Fair is a fantastic start to the new year. Founded in 1989, the fair takes place in January every year at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington. Rich with not just modern and contemporary art, the fair programme also includes talks regarding the relationships between art and technology- social media, AI, art and healthcare, and public art's future. Bringing together new and old galleries alike, the London Art Fair stands out as an excellent opportunity for both artists and art lovers to begin the new year, celebrating and looking at all that has been accomplished in the previous year and understanding what is to come.
In a conversation with Olivier Waltman, founder of his eponymous gallery, he mentions that curating his booth for the fair always includes works currently on display at the gallery. Talking about the fair itself, he describes it as a place where everyone comes together to view and understand contemporary art, not just art collectors and those working in the arts. He adds that putting all the galleries together in one large building further facilitates this ease of understanding and communication. The audience simply walks from one booth to another in the exact location, under the same roof, giving it structure and allowing visitors to realistically view most of the works in the six-day long fair. “London Art Fair is accessible, Frieze is conceptual”, Waltman states, explaining the art fair allows new, budding galleries and artists to access the often difficult-to-navigate art world.
At the centre of his booth is a large oil painting on canvas titled Happy Family, made by Dayron Gonzalez. Using striking colours, Gonzalez recreates a family portrait, blurring the faces and allowing his works a sense of anonymity and universality. The bold shades of orange, pink and yellow take over the canvas and aesthetically are visually pleasing. “The artist is happy if you just like the colours”, Waltman says with a grin. There is much detail to divulge within the painting, but within the hustle and bustle of the fair, the composition and colours draw the eyes and keep them until the viewer shakes free.
Walking through the fair, what is surprising to see is the interest this year in not just paintings but sculptures, prints, ceramics, pottery and textiles. Alveston Fine Arts, a gallery based in London’s Notting Hill founded by Fergus Downey in 2016, offers such a diverse collection. “The aim of the gallery has always been to give back. Downey helps young artists generate income by purchasing their works and then helping them slowly build a reputation and credibility in the business. He focuses on artists who exploit their canvas or their medium, ensuring they insert as much of their personality as they can into the works and truly take it to the next level”, says Giulia Giuliani, a representative of the Gallery. The Gallery’s most celebrated artists, Vicky Lindo and William Brookes, are not only instrumental in the creation of the Gallery but also in the booth at the London Art Fair. “Brookes creates the shape of these vases, complete with the handles, and Vindo then decorates them. They have had a collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum for over a year, and they were the first artists at Alveston, so they are special to us. The intricate detailing in their work and the mesmerising colours sets the artists apart and makes them masters of their craft”, Giuliani adds.
The two talks held on the first day, a VIP Preview of the Fair, included What happened when the National Gallery invited 200 influencers to celebrate its bicentenary?, moderated by The Art Newspaper columnist Aimee Dawson and Redefining Museums for the Future, a conversation between Edward Behrens, Editor of the Apollo and Jago Cooper, Executive Director of the Sainsbury Centre. This also allowed an opportunity for the audience to hear from Adwoa Botchey and Solomon, the creative couple behind the Instagram handle - @adeche.atelier, who worked with the National Gallery for their bicentenary and, through their work, champion stories of African mythology and folklore. The conversations were an exciting opportunity for artists, art lovers and people within the arts to reimagine the art world's future together.
“Wasn’t yesterday voted one of the most depressing days of the year? I don’t know, I am just glad I am here and excited about the coming year instead”, stated a budding artist after attending a talk, albeit with a glass of white wine in her hand. With more panel discussions on the schedule for the coming days, the London Art Fair is the best place to see, feel and understand contemporary art this week. Each booth bursts with ideas and creativity, leaving everyone invigorated and creatively charged.
With over a hundred and twenty participating galleries worldwide and more than a thousand artists on show, attending the London Art Fair is a fantastic start to the new year. Founded in 1989, the fair takes place in January every year at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington. Rich with not just modern and contemporary art, the fair programme also includes talks regarding the relationships between art and technology- social media, AI, art and healthcare, and public art's future. Bringing together new and old galleries alike, the London Art Fair stands out as an excellent opportunity for both artists and art lovers to begin the new year, celebrating and looking at all that has been accomplished in the previous year and understanding what is to come.
In a conversation with Olivier Waltman, founder of his eponymous gallery, he mentions that curating his booth for the fair always includes works currently on display at the gallery. Talking about the fair itself, he describes it as a place where everyone comes together to view and understand contemporary art, not just art collectors and those working in the arts. He adds that putting all the galleries together in one large building further facilitates this ease of understanding and communication. The audience simply walks from one booth to another in the exact location, under the same roof, giving it structure and allowing visitors to realistically view most of the works in the six-day long fair. “London Art Fair is accessible, Frieze is conceptual”, Waltman states, explaining the art fair allows new, budding galleries and artists to access the often difficult-to-navigate art world.
At the centre of his booth is a large oil painting on canvas titled Happy Family, made by Dayron Gonzalez. Using striking colours, Gonzalez recreates a family portrait, blurring the faces and allowing his works a sense of anonymity and universality. The bold shades of orange, pink and yellow take over the canvas and aesthetically are visually pleasing. “The artist is happy if you just like the colours”, Waltman says with a grin. There is much detail to divulge within the painting, but within the hustle and bustle of the fair, the composition and colours draw the eyes and keep them until the viewer shakes free.
Walking through the fair, what is surprising to see is the interest this year in not just paintings but sculptures, prints, ceramics, pottery and textiles. Alveston Fine Arts, a gallery based in London’s Notting Hill founded by Fergus Downey in 2016, offers such a diverse collection. “The aim of the gallery has always been to give back. Downey helps young artists generate income by purchasing their works and then helping them slowly build a reputation and credibility in the business. He focuses on artists who exploit their canvas or their medium, ensuring they insert as much of their personality as they can into the works and truly take it to the next level”, says Giulia Giuliani, a representative of the Gallery. The Gallery’s most celebrated artists, Vicky Lindo and William Brookes, are not only instrumental in the creation of the Gallery but also in the booth at the London Art Fair. “Brookes creates the shape of these vases, complete with the handles, and Vindo then decorates them. They have had a collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum for over a year, and they were the first artists at Alveston, so they are special to us. The intricate detailing in their work and the mesmerising colours sets the artists apart and makes them masters of their craft”, Giuliani adds.
The two talks held on the first day, a VIP Preview of the Fair, included What happened when the National Gallery invited 200 influencers to celebrate its bicentenary?, moderated by The Art Newspaper columnist Aimee Dawson and Redefining Museums for the Future, a conversation between Edward Behrens, Editor of the Apollo and Jago Cooper, Executive Director of the Sainsbury Centre. This also allowed an opportunity for the audience to hear from Adwoa Botchey and Solomon, the creative couple behind the Instagram handle - @adeche.atelier, who worked with the National Gallery for their bicentenary and, through their work, champion stories of African mythology and folklore. The conversations were an exciting opportunity for artists, art lovers and people within the arts to reimagine the art world's future together.
“Wasn’t yesterday voted one of the most depressing days of the year? I don’t know, I am just glad I am here and excited about the coming year instead”, stated a budding artist after attending a talk, albeit with a glass of white wine in her hand. With more panel discussions on the schedule for the coming days, the London Art Fair is the best place to see, feel and understand contemporary art this week. Each booth bursts with ideas and creativity, leaving everyone invigorated and creatively charged.
With over a hundred and twenty participating galleries worldwide and more than a thousand artists on show, attending the London Art Fair is a fantastic start to the new year. Founded in 1989, the fair takes place in January every year at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington. Rich with not just modern and contemporary art, the fair programme also includes talks regarding the relationships between art and technology- social media, AI, art and healthcare, and public art's future. Bringing together new and old galleries alike, the London Art Fair stands out as an excellent opportunity for both artists and art lovers to begin the new year, celebrating and looking at all that has been accomplished in the previous year and understanding what is to come.
In a conversation with Olivier Waltman, founder of his eponymous gallery, he mentions that curating his booth for the fair always includes works currently on display at the gallery. Talking about the fair itself, he describes it as a place where everyone comes together to view and understand contemporary art, not just art collectors and those working in the arts. He adds that putting all the galleries together in one large building further facilitates this ease of understanding and communication. The audience simply walks from one booth to another in the exact location, under the same roof, giving it structure and allowing visitors to realistically view most of the works in the six-day long fair. “London Art Fair is accessible, Frieze is conceptual”, Waltman states, explaining the art fair allows new, budding galleries and artists to access the often difficult-to-navigate art world.
At the centre of his booth is a large oil painting on canvas titled Happy Family, made by Dayron Gonzalez. Using striking colours, Gonzalez recreates a family portrait, blurring the faces and allowing his works a sense of anonymity and universality. The bold shades of orange, pink and yellow take over the canvas and aesthetically are visually pleasing. “The artist is happy if you just like the colours”, Waltman says with a grin. There is much detail to divulge within the painting, but within the hustle and bustle of the fair, the composition and colours draw the eyes and keep them until the viewer shakes free.
Walking through the fair, what is surprising to see is the interest this year in not just paintings but sculptures, prints, ceramics, pottery and textiles. Alveston Fine Arts, a gallery based in London’s Notting Hill founded by Fergus Downey in 2016, offers such a diverse collection. “The aim of the gallery has always been to give back. Downey helps young artists generate income by purchasing their works and then helping them slowly build a reputation and credibility in the business. He focuses on artists who exploit their canvas or their medium, ensuring they insert as much of their personality as they can into the works and truly take it to the next level”, says Giulia Giuliani, a representative of the Gallery. The Gallery’s most celebrated artists, Vicky Lindo and William Brookes, are not only instrumental in the creation of the Gallery but also in the booth at the London Art Fair. “Brookes creates the shape of these vases, complete with the handles, and Vindo then decorates them. They have had a collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum for over a year, and they were the first artists at Alveston, so they are special to us. The intricate detailing in their work and the mesmerising colours sets the artists apart and makes them masters of their craft”, Giuliani adds.
The two talks held on the first day, a VIP Preview of the Fair, included What happened when the National Gallery invited 200 influencers to celebrate its bicentenary?, moderated by The Art Newspaper columnist Aimee Dawson and Redefining Museums for the Future, a conversation between Edward Behrens, Editor of the Apollo and Jago Cooper, Executive Director of the Sainsbury Centre. This also allowed an opportunity for the audience to hear from Adwoa Botchey and Solomon, the creative couple behind the Instagram handle - @adeche.atelier, who worked with the National Gallery for their bicentenary and, through their work, champion stories of African mythology and folklore. The conversations were an exciting opportunity for artists, art lovers and people within the arts to reimagine the art world's future together.
“Wasn’t yesterday voted one of the most depressing days of the year? I don’t know, I am just glad I am here and excited about the coming year instead”, stated a budding artist after attending a talk, albeit with a glass of white wine in her hand. With more panel discussions on the schedule for the coming days, the London Art Fair is the best place to see, feel and understand contemporary art this week. Each booth bursts with ideas and creativity, leaving everyone invigorated and creatively charged.
With over a hundred and twenty participating galleries worldwide and more than a thousand artists on show, attending the London Art Fair is a fantastic start to the new year. Founded in 1989, the fair takes place in January every year at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington. Rich with not just modern and contemporary art, the fair programme also includes talks regarding the relationships between art and technology- social media, AI, art and healthcare, and public art's future. Bringing together new and old galleries alike, the London Art Fair stands out as an excellent opportunity for both artists and art lovers to begin the new year, celebrating and looking at all that has been accomplished in the previous year and understanding what is to come.
In a conversation with Olivier Waltman, founder of his eponymous gallery, he mentions that curating his booth for the fair always includes works currently on display at the gallery. Talking about the fair itself, he describes it as a place where everyone comes together to view and understand contemporary art, not just art collectors and those working in the arts. He adds that putting all the galleries together in one large building further facilitates this ease of understanding and communication. The audience simply walks from one booth to another in the exact location, under the same roof, giving it structure and allowing visitors to realistically view most of the works in the six-day long fair. “London Art Fair is accessible, Frieze is conceptual”, Waltman states, explaining the art fair allows new, budding galleries and artists to access the often difficult-to-navigate art world.
At the centre of his booth is a large oil painting on canvas titled Happy Family, made by Dayron Gonzalez. Using striking colours, Gonzalez recreates a family portrait, blurring the faces and allowing his works a sense of anonymity and universality. The bold shades of orange, pink and yellow take over the canvas and aesthetically are visually pleasing. “The artist is happy if you just like the colours”, Waltman says with a grin. There is much detail to divulge within the painting, but within the hustle and bustle of the fair, the composition and colours draw the eyes and keep them until the viewer shakes free.
Walking through the fair, what is surprising to see is the interest this year in not just paintings but sculptures, prints, ceramics, pottery and textiles. Alveston Fine Arts, a gallery based in London’s Notting Hill founded by Fergus Downey in 2016, offers such a diverse collection. “The aim of the gallery has always been to give back. Downey helps young artists generate income by purchasing their works and then helping them slowly build a reputation and credibility in the business. He focuses on artists who exploit their canvas or their medium, ensuring they insert as much of their personality as they can into the works and truly take it to the next level”, says Giulia Giuliani, a representative of the Gallery. The Gallery’s most celebrated artists, Vicky Lindo and William Brookes, are not only instrumental in the creation of the Gallery but also in the booth at the London Art Fair. “Brookes creates the shape of these vases, complete with the handles, and Vindo then decorates them. They have had a collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum for over a year, and they were the first artists at Alveston, so they are special to us. The intricate detailing in their work and the mesmerising colours sets the artists apart and makes them masters of their craft”, Giuliani adds.
The two talks held on the first day, a VIP Preview of the Fair, included What happened when the National Gallery invited 200 influencers to celebrate its bicentenary?, moderated by The Art Newspaper columnist Aimee Dawson and Redefining Museums for the Future, a conversation between Edward Behrens, Editor of the Apollo and Jago Cooper, Executive Director of the Sainsbury Centre. This also allowed an opportunity for the audience to hear from Adwoa Botchey and Solomon, the creative couple behind the Instagram handle - @adeche.atelier, who worked with the National Gallery for their bicentenary and, through their work, champion stories of African mythology and folklore. The conversations were an exciting opportunity for artists, art lovers and people within the arts to reimagine the art world's future together.
“Wasn’t yesterday voted one of the most depressing days of the year? I don’t know, I am just glad I am here and excited about the coming year instead”, stated a budding artist after attending a talk, albeit with a glass of white wine in her hand. With more panel discussions on the schedule for the coming days, the London Art Fair is the best place to see, feel and understand contemporary art this week. Each booth bursts with ideas and creativity, leaving everyone invigorated and creatively charged.
With over a hundred and twenty participating galleries worldwide and more than a thousand artists on show, attending the London Art Fair is a fantastic start to the new year. Founded in 1989, the fair takes place in January every year at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington. Rich with not just modern and contemporary art, the fair programme also includes talks regarding the relationships between art and technology- social media, AI, art and healthcare, and public art's future. Bringing together new and old galleries alike, the London Art Fair stands out as an excellent opportunity for both artists and art lovers to begin the new year, celebrating and looking at all that has been accomplished in the previous year and understanding what is to come.
In a conversation with Olivier Waltman, founder of his eponymous gallery, he mentions that curating his booth for the fair always includes works currently on display at the gallery. Talking about the fair itself, he describes it as a place where everyone comes together to view and understand contemporary art, not just art collectors and those working in the arts. He adds that putting all the galleries together in one large building further facilitates this ease of understanding and communication. The audience simply walks from one booth to another in the exact location, under the same roof, giving it structure and allowing visitors to realistically view most of the works in the six-day long fair. “London Art Fair is accessible, Frieze is conceptual”, Waltman states, explaining the art fair allows new, budding galleries and artists to access the often difficult-to-navigate art world.
At the centre of his booth is a large oil painting on canvas titled Happy Family, made by Dayron Gonzalez. Using striking colours, Gonzalez recreates a family portrait, blurring the faces and allowing his works a sense of anonymity and universality. The bold shades of orange, pink and yellow take over the canvas and aesthetically are visually pleasing. “The artist is happy if you just like the colours”, Waltman says with a grin. There is much detail to divulge within the painting, but within the hustle and bustle of the fair, the composition and colours draw the eyes and keep them until the viewer shakes free.
Walking through the fair, what is surprising to see is the interest this year in not just paintings but sculptures, prints, ceramics, pottery and textiles. Alveston Fine Arts, a gallery based in London’s Notting Hill founded by Fergus Downey in 2016, offers such a diverse collection. “The aim of the gallery has always been to give back. Downey helps young artists generate income by purchasing their works and then helping them slowly build a reputation and credibility in the business. He focuses on artists who exploit their canvas or their medium, ensuring they insert as much of their personality as they can into the works and truly take it to the next level”, says Giulia Giuliani, a representative of the Gallery. The Gallery’s most celebrated artists, Vicky Lindo and William Brookes, are not only instrumental in the creation of the Gallery but also in the booth at the London Art Fair. “Brookes creates the shape of these vases, complete with the handles, and Vindo then decorates them. They have had a collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum for over a year, and they were the first artists at Alveston, so they are special to us. The intricate detailing in their work and the mesmerising colours sets the artists apart and makes them masters of their craft”, Giuliani adds.
The two talks held on the first day, a VIP Preview of the Fair, included What happened when the National Gallery invited 200 influencers to celebrate its bicentenary?, moderated by The Art Newspaper columnist Aimee Dawson and Redefining Museums for the Future, a conversation between Edward Behrens, Editor of the Apollo and Jago Cooper, Executive Director of the Sainsbury Centre. This also allowed an opportunity for the audience to hear from Adwoa Botchey and Solomon, the creative couple behind the Instagram handle - @adeche.atelier, who worked with the National Gallery for their bicentenary and, through their work, champion stories of African mythology and folklore. The conversations were an exciting opportunity for artists, art lovers and people within the arts to reimagine the art world's future together.
“Wasn’t yesterday voted one of the most depressing days of the year? I don’t know, I am just glad I am here and excited about the coming year instead”, stated a budding artist after attending a talk, albeit with a glass of white wine in her hand. With more panel discussions on the schedule for the coming days, the London Art Fair is the best place to see, feel and understand contemporary art this week. Each booth bursts with ideas and creativity, leaving everyone invigorated and creatively charged.
