For lovers of original art with limited budgets, the Affordable Art Fair is making its debut as part of Brisbane’s burgeoning art scene from May 9-12.
More than 40 independent Australian art galleries will take part, offering affordable and accessible price-points for everyone, with thousands of original art works priced from $100 to $10,000.
Brisbane is the 15th international city to host an Affordable Art Fair which has been running for 25 years since it launched in London in 1999.
Australian Fair Director Stephanie Kelly said they had been inundated with requests to launch in Brisbane, after the success of the fairs in Melbourne (launched 1999) and Sydney (2022).
“Brisbane has an incredibly vibrant art scene with some of the best state galleries and collections of Indigenous art, and with many artists calling Queensland home,” Ms Kelly said.
“There is a small but strong gallery scene in Brisbane, and once you take an art road trip, there are galleries to discover everywhere. My parents lived in Brisbane during the 2000s, and I have loved seeing how the art scene has grown over the 20 years.”
The event is the single largest gathering of galleries and artists in one location, allowing artists to showcase their work with a range of genres from paintings, to sculptures, installations, photographic works, and limited-edition prints.
“Our ethos is to make art accessible to all, whether you are new to the art world and wanting to buy your first artwork, an experienced collector looking to test your eye and spot the next young talented artist, or a family wanting an arty day out,” Ms Kelly said.
Her advice to those thinking of purchasing art for the first time is to buy what you love.
“With thousands of artworks under one roof, you can quickly define your taste and discover what you love (and what you don’t),” she said. “I personally take a stroll around the fair, taking snaps of my short list of the art I love, including the labels with gallery, artists name and price, and then I sit down for a coffee or bubbles and review.
“Then it’s time for a second lap to try and work out where I might hang the artwork. With all artworks clearly priced you know what you can and can’t afford. If something is a little bit out of budget, our gallery stands often have more of that artist’s work in the storage cupboard so don’t be afraid to ask.”
And for more established collectors, Ms Kelly says they are often looking for new artists they can support. She encouraged them to get to know their showcase of six handpicked artists from across Queensland.
Some of the participating galleries include Studio Gallery in Fortitude Valley, Revival Art & Design in Albion, and The Toowoomba Gallery in Toowoomba.
In addition to thousands of original artworks under one roof, visitors can participate in a range of immersive experiences including live artist demonstrations, talks and tours, kids activities, hands-on workshops, live music and a selection of food and drink.
The Affordable Art Fair Brisbane runs from Thursday, 9 May – Sunday 12 May at the Brisbane Showgrounds Exhibition Building. For more information and tickets, visit www.affordableartfair.com
