Author: Imogen Aldridge

From the eye of the artist: how to navigate an art fair

Packed full of talent, art fairs can sometimes be a hard place to navigate. Where do you begin? What do you see first? Who do you talk to?

Whilst visiting the Other Art Fair earlier this year, we asked a few of our artists about their top tips on how to navigate an art fair, both from the viewpoint of an artist and a visitor. The art world's calendar is packed with a variety of shows to visit, so take these tips on board when you're next planning a trip to an art fair.

 

From the eye of the artist: how to navigate an art fair | Image

From the eye of the artist: how to navigate an art fair | Image

Louise McNaught - View her artworks

From the view of an artist, what is your top tip for surviving an art fair?

Have lots of snacks! It’s very hard to get away from your stall so having help is great. My dad helped me set it up and my husband is helping me take it down, so it’s nice to have the extra pair of hands.

Do you have any advice for anyone buying at an art fair?

Try to go for art you love rather than buying as an investment.

 

From the eye of the artist: how to navigate an art fair | Image

From the eye of the artist: how to navigate an art fair | Image

Matt Jukes - view his artworks

Do you have a specific artwork or series of works that gets the most attention at events like this?

The Aurora series. People always want to know how they’re made because there is a kind of magic to them, especially as they can move with the piece. People are so intrigued by the way the artworks change and shift.

Do you have any advice for anyone buying at an art fair?

Buy the art you love and do it now because it might not be there later.

 

From the eye of the artist: how to navigate an art fair | Image

From the eye of the artist: how to navigate an art fair | Image

Nadia Attura - view her artworks

What is your top tip for surviving an art fair?

Bring comfy shoes, a bottle of water and don’t have any expectations. Try not to worry and talk to other artists as they are invaluable and they are your support network. Get to know your customers and find out about them personally as that is your audience and you have to build a rapport with them. When you are selling at an art fair people are constantly looking - don’t approach them and let them have time alone with the work to build that emotional connection. Then go in and assist. I want people to have a relationship with the work and fall in love with the piece.

 

From the eye of the artist: how to navigate an art fair | Image

From the eye of the artist: how to navigate an art fair | Image

Justine Smith - view her artworks

Do you have a specific artwork or series of works that gets the most attention at events like this?

I’m most proud of my new Blown series. They’re a new take on an earlier series of mine, but with a new technique. It’s all about displaying the image in a different way. I first make the grenades as sculptures and then photograph them and this is how I make most of my prints. When I made the first grenade sculpture, the US was one of the world’s only superpowers. I decided to make a new version of the original print, the Blown series, because it seems that now the US is slowly stepping away from being that world power. I also like to think about how money is a conduit of power. It’s also about a transcendence of power and it can all crumble away in a second.

 

From the eye of the artist: how to navigate an art fair | Image

From the eye of the artist: how to navigate an art fair | Image

Mark Petty - view his artworks

What is your top tip for surviving an art fair?

“Don’t go out boozing until 4 in the morning before the opening day!”

Has all this talk of art fairs got you feeling inspired? Take at a look at our New Arrivals, and see if any of our new prints catch your eye.

NEW RELEASES

The Wild Swim from £120

Oli Mumby

Various sizes

Off You Pop by Louise Nordh
Exclusive
Off You Pop £95

Louise Nordh

35 x 35cm

Limited edition of 30

Moving Forms by Mr Penfold
Exclusive
Moving Forms £165

Mr Penfold

26 x 30cm

Limited edition of 15

Inside Mickey's Heart from £150

Angel London

Various sizes

Navy Boy £175

Charlie Evaristo-Boyce

50 x 70cm

Limited edition of 25

I Will Bite from £135

Mathilda Mai

Various sizes

Italian Summer by SODA
Exclusive
Italian Summer £125

SODA

42 x 29.7cm

Limited edition of 40

Let's Get It On £595

Linda Charles

56 x 76cm

Limited edition of 45

Wash the Blues Away by Charlie Haydn Taylor
Exclusive
Wash the Blues Away from £150

Charlie Haydn Taylor

Various sizes

Inhale £175

Joe Webb

50 x 70cm

Limited edition of 30

Roarsome - Green by And Wot
Exclusive
Roarsome - Green £195

And Wot

50 x 70cm

Limited edition of 2

Fresh £200

Hannah Adamaszek

60 x 75.5cm

Limited edition of 15

Destroy the Patriarchy Not the Planet (Mini) £400

Hannah Shillito

27.9 x 21cm

Limited edition of 20

Scratchin' Cats (Blue) £150

The Cameron Twins

33 x 36cm

Limited edition of 20

Fast Dog £95

Gavin Dobson

50 x 70cm

Limited edition of 100

In The Sky With Stars £195

Charlie Evaristo-Boyce

70 x 100cm

Limited edition of 16

Gamebuoy by Nick Chaffe
Exclusive
Gamebuoy £100

Nick Chaffe

29.7 x 42cm

Limited edition of 50

Seascape W £300

Newton Blades

50 x 30cm

Limited edition of 100

Ley Lines £450

Maxine Gregson

100 x 50cm

Limited edition of 250

What's That Then by Nick Chaffe
Ready To Hang
What's That Then £400

Nick Chaffe

27.8 x 54.8cm

Limited edition of 5

Les Oiseaux - Artist Proof £295

Epi

42 x 29.7cm

Limited edition of 50

See You Later Alligator! £550

The Cameron Twins

51 x 72cm

Limited edition of 10

The Olive Branch (Azzuro) £2,500

Magnus Gjoen

95 x 120cm

Limited edition of 3

AZUL Mini £125

Florence Blanchard

40 x 40cm

Limited edition of 25