“The mission is to make art accessible to all” The Affordable Art Fair 2024
Image: Ben Brolet
The Affordable Art Fair has arrived in Brisbane / Meanjin for the first time, showcasing artwork from over 40 galleries under one roof. Upon entering the fair the scale of the event is evident. I can confidently say that I have never seen so many different artists showcased commercially in one place. The fair is set up like a market, with each gallery having a booth to showcase their artists. This allows for a diversity in art and galleries, with major interstate galleries placed alongside local and regional art collectives. The festival organisers even claim that it’s the largest gathering of galleries and artists in one location in Australia. It was a joy to browse the art, but given that this is the Affordable Art Fair, I was also on the hunt for a bargain.
It is important to note that the fair’s definition of affordable is artworks between $100 and $10,000. What is considered affordable is highly dependent on the individual, and I definitely saw many wonderful artworks that could easily bankrupt me. But I was glad to see that the fair has made an effort to emphasise the especially affordable art, with bright labels to indicate works under $1,000 and $500 respectively. A few galleries even have large sections specifically for works under $1,000. For artists represented by galleries the prices seemed reasonable and the clear indication of more affordable artwork helped me navigate the large space. I was able to find a beautiful artwork for under $500 and feel very happy with my purchase.
Australian Fair Director Stephanie Kelly has noted that, “The mission of the Fair is to democratise and demystify the art world and make arta ccessible to all.” Going on to say that, “Unlike traditional art fairs, every exhibited work is from a living artist, every artwork on display lists a sale price and every artwork is looking for a new home.”
Image: Phillip Reed
Keeping to this mission, many artists are present and happy to talk about their work throughout the fair. In addition there are several ‘Artist in Action’ areas. These areas feature artists creating work in-person for passersby to watch. Out of these the most unique is Jackie Case’s Art ATM. Standing next to the food court is a large cardboard box decorated as an ATM. Attendees are able to purchase a ticket to insert into the box with instructions for the artist hidden inside. Jackie then creates a unique artwork and returns it through the front slot on the ATM. The distancing of artist and consumer through the facade of an ATM is a clever twist on commercial art and I definitely recommend paying Jackie’s ATM a visit.
The Affordable Art Fair pleasantly surprised me with both its scale and offerings. In addition to the previously mentioned, the fair also features a section featuring young local artists, several sculptural installations, and drawing activities for children. Spending a few hours wandering the fair is a great way to spend an afternoon and I look forward to the fair returning in future years.
The Affordable Art Fair will be be open until May 12 in the Brisbane Showgrounds Exhibition Building.
