LONDON.- This autumn, London will see the launch of a new and unique Contemporary art fair to be held at The Bargehouse on Southbank. Beginning on 25 November,
The Other Art Fair will provide a platform unlike any other for artists, collectors and gallerists to connect directly.
A carefully selected array of 100 emerging artists has been chosen to display works and sell them directly to the public. The fair aims to give emerging artists, as yet unrepresented, an exclusive opportunity to promote their work and ideas. As the artists will gain all the proceeds from the sales they make, collectors are being encouraged to come to the fair prepared to negotiate. It will provide them with the chance to gain insight into their purchases, as they will be able to discuss the meaning and creative process of the works with the artists.
Hundreds of artists applied to participate in the fair via the website before being whittled down to 100 of the most exciting new and unsigned artists. Works on sale will range from urban designs in spray-paint by Paul Larricart to the haunting seascapes of Emma Kemp. Other highlights will include sculptures by Ting Tong Chang, constructed from reclaimed materials such as shopping trolleys; whilst Twinkle Troughton will present her wickedly satirical canvases.
The art on display at The Other Art Fair has been chosen by a committee with a widespread expertise in contemporary art. Ranging from writers and curators, to journalists and artists, their combined experience of dealing with artists and collectors is sure to help maximise this opportunity for emerging talent to gain recognition. Charming Baker commented that “The Other Art Fair is a wonderful door-opener for some major new talent.’’ His example of operating as an unsigned but highly successful artist will act as an inspiration for artists and collectors looking to forge new connections for themselves.
The Committee
Charming Baker studied Fine Art at Central St Martins before launching himself as an artist without gallery representation. Feeling out of place in the art market, Baker has since carved himself a stellar reputation, with his work in the collections of Damien Hirst, Frank Cohen, Harry Blain, Aby Rosen, Alberto Mugrabi and Philip Niarchos. A recent show of his in Covent Garden sold out of works before the opening night.
Dr. Anthony Downey is the Programme Director of the M.A. course in Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s Institute of Art , London . He is the editor of www.ibraaz.org, an on-line research forum for the Middle East and North Africa , and he sits on the editorial board of Third Text.
Sophie Hastings has a variety and depth of experience in arts journalism that has made her an influential opinion former in the art world. Having profiled both artists and collectors from Tracey Emin and Mat Collishaw to Frank Cohen and David Tang, Hastings has an important insight into how lasting relationships are formed between artists and buyers.
Godfrey Worsdale is the Director of BALTIC and has curated some of the most important exhibitions of contemporary art outside London in recent years. Working at the Southampton City Art Gallery , the Middlesborough Institute of Modern Art, Worsdale has overseen exhibitions featuring Chris Ofili, Damien Hirst and the Chapman Brothers amongst others. This year BALTIC will also host the Turner Prize.
Graham Fink has become a forerunner in the field of contemporary creative culture through his experience as President of the Design & Art Directors Association, Executive Creative Director at M&C Saatchi and most recently Chief Creative Officer at Ogilvy & Mather. He is an award winning photographer and was nominated for a BAFTA for his film Millennium.
