SYDNEY.- The second edition of Australasia’s international art fair, Sydney Contemporary at Carriageworks, has attracted 30,150 collectors and art enthusiasts from Australasia and beyond over four days and secured more than AUD$14 million in art work sales, with further sales expected to be finalised in the coming days and weeks. The bi-annual contemporary art fair was presented from Wednesday 9th until Sunday 13 September at Carriageworks and featured 90 respected galleries hailing from 14 countries including China, Japan, Singapore, the UK, USA, Chile, Argentina and New Zealand.

Sydney Contemporary 2015 participating galleries – 30% of which were international – installed museum-quality artworks across the entire Carriageworks building, spanning seven large-scale exhibition spaces. The event has built upon the success of the inaugural event held in September 2013 that attracted more than 28,000 visitors over four days, with more than $10 million in sales.

Tim Etchells, founder of Sydney Contemporary, said: “The visitor turnout and sales for the second edition of Sydney Contemporary has been truly incredible. We’re delighted that we’ve exceeded both our sales and visitor targets, as well as adding a new element this year with the inaugural Sydney Art Week. The feedback that we’ve received has been extremely positive from exhibitors with participating galleries reporting very strong sales.”

Barry Keldoulis, Fair Director said: “Sydney Contemporary 15 has been successful in showing to an expanded audience some of the best contemporary art from across a wide spectrum, both culturally and in terms of the mediums used to express the artists’ concerns. The visitors, galleries and artists all seem very happy, so I am very happy!”

Leading international gallery Pearl Lam Galleries, based in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore participated in the Fair for the first time in 2015. Shanghai Gallery Director Megan Leckie commented on their experience: “Sydney Contemporary attracted a very serious pool of international collectors. We saw heartfelt and intellectual responses to the work. A great fair, fantastic space and organization.”

Melbourne gallerist Lesley Kehoe of Lesley Kehoe Galleries, who exhibited Japanese work, noted: “The best result we have achieved at any fair in Australasia in over 30 years of doing business. A very pleasing level of connoisseurship in the audience and a lot more awareness of international art.”

Joanna Strumpf, co-Director of Sydney’s Sullivan + Strumpf said: “Sydney Contemporary is the best event for contemporary art in Australasia. An extremely enjoyable fair on every level.”

Andy Dinan of Melbourne’s MARS gallery said: “The great thing about the fair for me, apart from selling out, was the international exposure for my artists, to collectors and galleries from around the globe.”

Sydney Contemporary 2015 included a dynamic, four-day public program at the Fair with curated Video Contemporary,Installation Contemporary and Performance Contemporary sections, as well as talks and tours presented by industry leaders, and activities for children.

Highlights of the Fair included the Opening Night (Thursday 10 September), the VIP Preview (Wednesday 9 September), an exclusive preview event for experienced collectors and public institutions, and Sydney Art Week, a new initiative for 2015 designed to complement the Fair with a week of art-inspired activities for all ages held at Carriageworks and across the city. Sydney Art Week continued the festivities of the Fair after hours with free public events, performances, conversations and a new ‘art and dine’ program.

Sydney Contemporary also boasted five days of VIP events attracting influential art collectors and taste-makers. The program included a range of events including artist studio visits, exhibition openings, private and corporate collection viewings, privately hosted parties and dinners, lively panel discussions and behind-the-scenes access to the city’s leading institutions.

Sydney Contemporary’s high-profile Advisory Council comprised Sue Cato, Rachel Griffiths, Mark Hughes, John Kaldor AM, Dr Gene Sherman, Nick Tobias, Lucy Turnbull AO and Evan Williams.