This week is ‘Frieze week’ – a point in the visual arts calendar that sees much of London’s contemporary art scene, from commercial galleries to publically-funded museums, operating in the slipstream of Frieze Art Fair (17-20 October). As the world’s moneyed art collectors descend on London, the capital is awash with talks, events, openings and luxury canapés. Of course, other art fairs are also available and these include:
The Independent Artists Fair
Featuring 50 contemporary artists from Europe, America, Asia and the Middle East, this new art fair presents work selected from over 300 submissions and includes sculpture, painting, photography, video, installation and performance. Organised by artists, the Independent Artists Fair aims to put ‘artists rather than the market at the forefront’.
16-20 October, Mile End Art Pavilion, Clinton Road, London, E3. www.artpavilion.info/The-Independent-Artists-Fair-TIAF
The Other Art Fair
Now in its fifth year, this fair includes work by more than 100 unrepresented artists who were chosen from over 500 applicants by a selection panel including Turner prize nominee Yinka Shonibare MBE, director of The Saatchi Gallery Rebecca Wilson, and National Gallery curator David Jaffe. The focus is on emerging artists, and events during the fair include free curated walks, music sessions and live performance art. This year, for the first time The Other Art Fair is presented alongside Moniker Art Fair. Now in its fourth year, Moniker presents contemporary art with its roots ‘embedded in urban culture’.
17-20 October, Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London, E16. www.theotherartfair.com
The Sunday Art Fair
Featuring 22 galleries from around the world, including the UK’s Kendall Koppe (Glasgow), and London’s Arcade, Studio Voltaire and Rob Tufnell, The Sunday Art Fair returns for its fourth year. Galleries will be showing in a booth-free, open-plan environment and featured international galleries include Tanya Leighton (Berlin), Clearing (Brussels/New York) and Christian Andersen (Copenhagen).
17-20 October, Ambika P3, Marylebone Road, London, NW1. sunday-fair.com
Sluice Art Fair
Returning for the second time after a year off in 2012, this artist/curator run fair celebrates the diversity of artist-led practice and seeks to place the artist at the centre of its activities. Galleries and projects taking part include Aid & Abet (Cambridge), The Royal Standard (Liverpool), Vane (Newcastle), Terrace Gallery (Birmingham) and Theodore:Art (Brooklyn). Read the a-n interview with Sluice co-director Karl England here.
19-20 October, 47/49 Tanner Street, Bermondsey, London SE1. www.sluiceartfair.com
1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair
This new fair aims ‘to provide a platform for galleries, artists, curators, art centres and museums involved in African and Africa-related projects’. Initiated by Touria El Glaoui and designed by the architect David Adjaye, 17 galleries from across Africa will be exhibiting work. There is also an education programme curated by Koyo Kouoh.
16-20 October, Somerset House, West Wing Strand, London WC2. 1-54.com
Multiplied 2013
Organised by the auction house Christies, Multiplied returns for the fourth year and will be selling all forms of contemporary editions and multiples, including prints, photographs and 3D works. As part of the fair, Vital Arts, affiliated charity for Multiplied 2013, is raffling Bird Search by Bob and Roberta Smith. All proceeds will go towards funding the patient participation programme for Barts Health NHS. Tickets for the raffle are available here.
18-21 October, Christies South Kensington, 85 Old Brompton Road, London, SW7. multipliedartfair.com
Pavilion of Art and Design (PAD)
More than 55 international dealers presenting work in design and fine art from 1860 to the present day, with a focus on 20th Century art, design and the decorative arts.
16-20 October, Berkeley Square, London W1. www.pad-fairs.com
Moving Image Art Fair
This biennial art fair presents exclusively moving image-based art and this year features work by 35 international artists, represented by galleries from China, France, USA, Switzerland, the UAE and more.
17-20 October, Bargehouse, OXO Tower Wharf, South Bank, London SE1. www.moving-image.info
Touch Art Fair
Touch Art Fair claims to be the world’s first art fair celebrating tactile and haptic arts, and includes work you are invited to touch by Jake and Dinos Chapman among other artists. The fair is set up as a non-profit organisation that celebrates the haptic arts.
17-20 October, Marylebone Gardens, 35 Marylebone High Street, London W1. www.touchartfair.com
