L-R: Rajashree Nayak, A Bouquet of Flowers, £1175, Woodcut, NuGa Arthouse; Zuzanna Blur, Dolphins 1, £700, photography, Agart; Paul Snell, Bleed #202391, £4,900, Mixed media, ARTITLEDcontemporary
AFFORDABLE ART FAIR RETURNS TO HAMPSTEAD HEATH WITH AN EXCITING SHOWCASE OF GALLERIES & ARTISTS
8 – 12 MAY 2024
- Affordable Art Fair Hampstead marks the second UK fair in its 25th Anniversary year and the final fair of the spring season.
- Showcasing a brilliant roster of local and international galleries representing 15 countries, including 17 new galleries making their Affordable Art Fair debut
- Belgian artist Jules Wittock will create an immersive new installation entitled ‘Mindset’.
- Discover Rising Star Artists from Made in Arts London and the prestigious Jackson’s Art Prize 2024
- Enjoy the only rooftop bar overlooking the Heath and daily wine tasting classes, alongside open-air painting lessons on the Heath
- Charity Partner ARTHOUSE Unlimited will showcase artwork by adults with learning and physical difficulties, empowering them to create and collaborate.
Affordable Art Fair, Hampstead Spring
Hampstead Heath, 8 – 12 May 2024
In partnership with JM Finn
Affordable Art Fair has announced the full list of exhibiting galleries coming to London’s beautiful Hampstead Heath this spring, 8 – 12 May (Private View on Wednesday 8 May).
Affordable Art Fair Hampstead is a must-see event in London’s art calendar, as one of the only events of its kind to take place on the idyllic Hampstead Heath. This year’s edition will boast a huge variety contemporary art from an impressive roster of local and international galleries hailing from 15 countries, as well as exciting emerging artists from across University of the Arts London in Made in Arts London’s showcase, and finalists in the Jackson’s Art Prize 2024. With 1,000s of artworks to discover priced from £50 – £7,500, get ready to be delighted.
Explore an array of stunning artworks at the fair, complemented by an exciting addition: a new labyrinthine installation by artist Jules Wittock entitled ‘Mindset’. Wittock’s immersive installation promises to captivate visitors, marking his London debut following the success of his maze-like installation at Affordable Art Fair Brussels. But that’s not all – prepare for a host of exciting offerings, including the Heath’s only rooftop bar, a Doggy Photobooth for immortalising furry companions in art, and Summer Lates during the week with live DJs, art, and drinks until 9pm.
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
Affordable Art Fair celebrates 25 years of democratising the art world (1999 – 2024). To mark this significant milestone, the fair has launched several initiatives. These include commissioning best-selling artist Nadia Attura, represented by Will’s Art Warehouse, to create a limited-edition print depicting the gardens of Battersea Park – Affordable Art Fair’s first home – along with special installations and much more to be announced. The fair will be gearing up to its major autumn edition in October, which marks 25 years since the first ever edition of Affordable Art Fair in 1999.
INSPIRING DISPLAYS
Need some innovative inspiration? Affordable Art Fair Hampstead is offering curated displays include an Abstract Art showcase, plus a stunning presentation of artworks depicting our iconic Hampstead home. Those seeking the best on a budget will enjoy their displays of the best art under £1,000 and under £500, in partnership with JM Finn. The fair is also celebrating its gorgeous setting with ‘The Heath and Beyond’ exhibition, depicting artworks connected to the spaces and places they love. In line with the most popular styles of the season, the fair is also showcasing a series of intriguing geometric and abstract artworks in a display entitled ‘Shaping the Abstract.’
FUN FOR ALL
In addition to the spectacular art on display, Affordable Art Fair Hampstead is introducing a variety of initiatives to appeal to all! Guests to the fair will have the opportunity to bring out their inner artists with the exciting introduction of ‘Painting on The Heath’: outdoor painting classes overlooking the idyllic Hampstead Heath! The classes will be led by leading landscape artist Joanna Constable-Green, who is a direct descendant of famed English artist John Constable. These lessons will take place Thursday 9 May and Friday 10 May at 2pm and tickets are £40, which also includes entry to the fair.
In addition, at the Doggy Photobooth, returning this year after much past success, visitors will have the chance to have their four-legged friends immortalised by the professional dog photographer Amie Barron.
Amie Barron is an award-winning London based photographer who works with natural light to capture the unique and beautiful personalities of dogs, turning moments with them into magical pieces of art to freeze in time. So bring your four-legged friend along to Affordable Art Fair Hampstead and create your own special portrait of them to treasure forever! To book your pet’s photoshoot, select the Dog Photoshoot bundle from the ticket options available on Affordable Art Fair’s ticket shop.
Affordable Art Fair will also be offering a unique experience in hosting the only rooftop bar on the Heath. MUST Wine will be serving English wine, Champagne from their Champagne Bar, and hosting a daily wine tasting class! English Wine Speed Tasting will take place at 3pm Thursday to Sunday, with three incredible wines to enjoy alongside fine art.
To continue the festivities, Summer Lates are back at the Hampstead Fair, showcasing great art alongside DJs and drinks.
FRESH ART FOR SPRING
Spring heralds new beginnings, and Affordable Art Fair Hampstead is embracing this spirit by welcoming 17 new galleries into its fold. Among them is Geneva-based Gutmans Gallery, showcasing dynamic artists from across the globe; Thang Long Gallery, dedicated to preserving Vietnamese culture through art in London; Drang Gallery, bringing a fusion of modern masters and emerging talents from its UK bases; Turkish gallery ACT Contemporary, shining a spotlight on both local and international artists; London-based Ad Lib Gallery; ART_020 from the Netherlands, representing award-winning artists from Amsterdam; and Galleria 93 Arte Contemporanea, an Italian gallery introducing fresh voices in the contemporary art scene.
INTERNATIONAL GALLERIES
Affordable Art Fair Hampstead is set to welcome 29 international galleries, representing 15 different countries. Among them are Netherlands-based Gallery40NL, specialising in abstract artworks, and photography gallery ARTITLEDcontemporary; The Asian Art Gallery (China) stands out for their commitment to supporting local arts education for children, ArtBlue Studio (Singapore) works to promote Vietnamese art internationally; Mookji Art Contemporary (South Korea) offers a blend of sculpture and paintings; Al Contar del Arte (Spain) champions work combining visual arts and literature; Barnes Collective (South Africa) focused on nature-inspired works; and Bear Galerie (France) specialise in pop art and urban design. Other countries represented at the fair are Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland, and Turkey.
See here for a full list of exhibiting galleries.
INSTALLATION ARTIST: JULES WITTOCK
Visitors to the Hampstead Fair will be greeted by ‘Mindset’, an immersive new installation by young, Brussels-based artist Jules Wittock. Wittock is well-known for his intricate, immersive labyrinths, each featuring an entrance and an exit, with the path to the solution forming a hidden word. Visitors will be invited to step into Wittock’s world and explore his hand-painted labyrinths adorning the walls, inviting you to lose yourself in art. Jules is represented by Xin Art.
PROGRAMME PARTNERS
Affordable Art Fair is delighted to be supporting ARTHOUSE Unlimited as its Charity Partnr for the Hampstead 2024 edition. ARTHOUSE Unlimited showcases the artistic talents of adults with complex neuro-diverse and physical support needs, offering them an opportunity to enhance their emotional wellbeing and sense of purpose through inclusion and celebration of their artistic skills. Their aim is to help each artist feel happier in life by offering a stage, voice, and an audience to showcase individual talents.
Artworks from their creative community will be available for viewing and purchase at the fair, with 100% of funds raised supporting sustainability and growth. This enables ARTHOUSE Unlimited to continue fostering a sense of purpose and social inclusion, which lies at the heart of their important work.
Other programme partners include Made in Arts London and Jackson’s Art Prize 2024.
Guests will thereby have the opportunity to browse top emerging artistic talent from University of the Arts London (UAL) in the Made in Arts London showcase, and finalists from Jackson’s Art Prize 2024 global competition.
THE DIRECTOR’S CUT
Fair Director of Affordable Art Fair UK Hugo Barclay selects his top artists to watch at Hampstead Spring, 8 – 12 May 2024:
Enda Bowe, Narrative Gallery
“Enda’s work creates nostalgia from the everyday through his cinematic photography, a blend of documentary and staged photography, showcasing enormous depth and truth. I find myself coming back to his photos again and again.”
Jules Wittock, Xin Art
“It’s easy to get lost in the brilliant maze of Jules’ artworks. Hand-painted sometimes to huge scales, there is always only one solution and the solution writes a word – always a secret. I’m very intrigued to see the full-scale installation that Jules is preparing for the Fair.”
Peter Moore, Noon Powell Fine Art
“Can you separate the present from the past? Can meaning become meaningless? Moore’s ‘writing exercises’ come from the idea that your ‘first thought’ is your best thought.’ For me – it’s about one’s connection with one’s gut, knowing and trusting oneself.”
Ewa Senczawa, Gutmans Gallery
“I love how Ewa’s bold botanical creations capture nature’s essence, delving into the raw essence of her environment with authenticity and sincerity.”
Kanika Shah, NuGa Arthouse
“Kanika brings together the mediums of painting and printmaking, traditional techniques, watercolour and mixed media to culminate in an intimate portrait of her inner world, inserting simple objects such as flowers, numbers, buildings, words and clouds to create patterns.”
Cristina Morono, Al Contar del Arte
“I’m drawn by the quality and confident abstraction of Cristina’s artworks, an artist in pursuit of constant experimentation.”
Thu Hien Vu, Thang Long Gallery
“I find myself immersed in the delicate and mystical figures in Thu Hien Vu’s watercolours, their dreamlike quality evoking a sense of serenity and strength. Her traditionally clothed figures are mysterious and real at the same time and are often embodiments of the spirits that influence human lives.”
James Kerr, Nadia Waterfield Fine Art
“James’ gutsy paintings conjure a sense of comfort for me, the simple shapes and blocks of colour. This may be at odds with his process, which involves thick layers of paint building up, be scrapped off, reworked and repainted until eventually the work is resolved. His work brings back memories of the barren French landscape of Gascony that I grew up around.”
Find a selection of artwork images from the Director’s Cut here.
Hugo Barclay, UK Fair Director & Art Expert, said: “Affordable Art Fair Hampstead is a fantastic event to celebrate the start of summer. We are proud to be one of the few large-scale events to take place on iconic Hampstead Heath, offering a most charming setting for a fun day out for art lovers. We’re thrilled to have a broad range of excellent galleries exhibiting with us this year, with art from around the world coming together in a beautiful London landmark. We encourage visitors to get lost in the art with Jules Wittock’s maze-like display at this year’s fair, welcome wine-lovers to find the perfect pairing for their new pieces at MUST Wine Bar, and invite four-legged friends to pose for the Doggy Photobooths. With so much on offer, we are confident that everyone will enjoy a day out at Affordable Art Fair Hampstead.”
Interviews & Features
Alongside exhibiting artists, we can offer Affordable Art Fair representatives and art market experts: UK Fair Director Hugo Barclay; CEO and Founder, Will Ramsay; UK RMD Jennifer Conner and installation artist Jules Wittock for interviews and comment relating to the Fair and other art world news. Mike Nuttall, MUST Wine Founder and Wine Expert will also be available for comment.
To get tickets and to find out more about Affordable Art Fair, visit: https://aafhampstead.seetickets.com/timeslot/affordable-art-fair-hampstead
