Between September 5 and 8, there will be a lot of art-fluent people heading in and out of Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building. Some will be leaving with paintings by famous artists they’ve paid up to $12,000 for. Others will have bagged an up-and-comer for as little as $100. All of them will have had their eyes treated to thousands of original, contemporary artworks from a huge range of Australian and international galleries.
If you’re not sure where to start, the event has a full program of expert tours, informative talks and hands-on workshops so you can get yourself into an artistic state of mind. Here, Stephanie Kelly, the director of Melbourne’s Affordable Art Fair, lists nine of her favourite pieces that will be available at this year’s event.
Above: ‘Underwater Out of Space’ by Chris Rivers
Hong Kong gallerist Beulah Van Rensburg represents Chris Rivers, a self-taught artist from Manchester, England. A former professional rock drummer turned artist, Rivers paints with a gentle sensibility. His large scale, dramatic oil paintings have flashes of Impressionistic, Renaissance and Rococo styles fused together with a surrealistic approach.
‘Fashion’ by Max Stephen Grossman
As an avid book lover I adore Colombian photographer Max Stephen Grossman’s bookscapes. In this particular photographic series he has digitally reassembled a library of fashion-themed books. A feast for the eyes, you just want to pull a one off the shelf.
‘Walpa Wind Dreaming’ by Jorna Newberry
Highly accomplished Pitjantjatjarra artist Jorna Newberry uses flowing patterned surfaces and a subtle muted colour palette to give a tranquil shimmer to her depiction of wind.
‘La Venaria Reale 2’ by Wayne Fogden
Melbourne-based photographer Wayne Fogden uses just one camera and a single lens to make his stunning large-scale images using whatever light is available, adhering to the great photographer Ansel Adam’s line, “A good photograph is knowing where to stand.” Fogden was granted private access to photograph three of the Savoy’s palaces: Palazzo Reale di Torino, Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi and La Venaria Reale. I can’t wait to see this ornate series, all his subjects are very different with their only commonality being scale and opulence.
‘Story 13’ by Luchio Lim
South Korean paper artist Lucio Lim always manages to exude such a simple elegance in his work. The meditative patience involved in the making of this artwork creates an instant calm. Lucio Lim is represented by Tableau Gallery who will be joining us from South Korea.
‘Kirra’ by Chamnan Chongpaiboon
As an artist exhibiting with Lalanta Gallery at our fairs globally it has been a pleasure following Chongpaiboon’s career. His larger than life portraits have such wallpower.
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‘The Immigrant’ by Nunzio Miano
As the son of Sicilian immigrants, Nunzio Miano of Vernissage Art Gallery in Melbourne reflects on his rich cultural heritage and upbringing. Ranging from figurative to abstract, brightly coloured and expressive works contrast with dark and melancholy pieces exploring distortion and emotion. Given his last three exhibitions have been sell-out shows, I know I’ll be getting in quick to secure a work by this emerging artist.
‘The Morning After’ by Monique Lacey
I was taken by Auckland-based artist Monique Lacey’s featherlight sculptures instantly after seeing them at Melbourne’s West End Art Space. Each sculpture emanates an almost baroque-ness melded with a contemporary aesthetic. The works look fabulous on its own or as a varied series in interplay.
‘Triplex Black’ by Morgan Shimeld
Morgan Shimeld’s work has a power and strength in simplicity. As a lover of modernist architecture and design, I was drawn to the Sydney-based sculptor’s abstract minimalist forms.
Visit: affordableartfair.com/fairs/melbourne