Following a successful debut in Brisbane and return to Sydney earlier this year, the world's largest art fair organiser will return to its Australian heart this winter.
Affordable Art Fair will transform the world-heritage-listed Royal Exhibition Building with thousands of never-before-seen art works from over 55 of the nation's best boutique galleries, ranging from $100 to $10,000. Aiming to demystify the traditional art buying experience with highly visible pricing and a relaxed atmosphere, visitors will have the unique opportunity to speak directly with gallerists, witness artists in action, and discover something new each day with works rotated as they sell.
The Fair's Melbourne Director, Georgia Huestis said: "We can't wait to return to the city that launched Affordable Art Fair's Australian journey back in 2019. Five years on, we now have three fairs across the east coast and have welcomed tens of thousands of art lovers through our doors.
This year, we have so much to offer with a reinvigorated exhibitor program and immersive visitor experiences, made extra special by our 25th global anniversary. Whether visitors are seasoned collectors, art enthusiasts, or first-time buyers, our fair ensures an inclusive and enjoyable experience for all."
Showcasing an impressive array of original works at approachable price points, organisers have curated an impressive line-up of Australia's best regional, suburban, and metro galleries, and artist collectives. Inner-city highlights include SOL Gallery and Outré Gallery (Fitzroy), Art to Art (Balwyn) and the nation's leading online gallery Bluethumb (Richmond).
Salt Contemporary (Queenscliff), Plume Gallery (Lorne) and Manyung Gallery (Sorrento) will present the best of Victoria's coastlines, alongside Grainger Gallery (Canberra), Benten Gallery (Sydney) and Chris Riley Gallery (Brisbane) from across the eastern seaboard. Artist collective highlights include Femme+, Jackson Pensa Price, and Highlands Artist Collective, to name a few.
One of the longest running Aboriginal-owned art centres, Warlukurlangu Artists, returns as the Fair's Access Partner. Each year, organisers partner with a non-profit organisation to support grassroots art initiatives. Based in Northern Territory, the team will present a series of authentic works with 100% of sales going back to support First Nations artists.
Complementing the treasure trove of gallery exhibits, visitors will be able to experience a stacked Artists in Action program including playful ceramic demonstrations from Louise Kyriakou (Outré Gallery), live sketches from James Price (Gallery Alchemy) and a larger-than-life 'reading room' by Blue Mountain's local Ben Tankard (Sarah Birtles Art + Advice). Chanel Tang and Ambrose Rehorek of Creature Creature (Outré Gallery) will also welcome guests with a six-metre mural as Jackie Case returns with her iconic Art ATM – producing one-of-a-kind pieces from inside a life size bank teller, for visitors who purchase a token.
Rounding out this year's stellar offering, the Discover: Young Talent program will showcase works from a new, hand-picked selection of emerging artists under the age of 35, and little creatives will be kept busy at the refreshed Children's Art Studio. Presented in collaboration with Gold Coast based artist, Dion Parker, the kid-friendly zone will feature colouring activities inspired by Dion's signature style and free face painting.
Affordable Art Fair made its Australian debut in Melbourne in 2019 and has since become a cornerstone event in the city's vibrant arts and culture scene.
Tickets are on sale now via affordableartfair.com/fairs/melbourne.
The full gallery line-up will be announced soon.
