The Affordable Art Fair Returns To Battersea

katemossKate Moss, Watercolours on paper, 53x38cm by Cate Parr

£1,950 at SD Gallery

The Affordable Art Fair returns to the Battersea Evolution building in Battersea Park from 7 – 10 March, and they are giving people a chance to Sleep Now, Buy Later…

– Art lovers given chance to sleep on decision before purchase –

In a consumer shopping first, one lucky visitor to the Affordable Art Fair this month will be given the opportunity to ‘sleep with’ their prospective art purchase in order to make a fresh and considered decision after a good night’s rest.

Fair organisers hope to put more first time buyers at ease with the one off concept which will be trialled with a single lucky winner at the Battersea Park event. The idea came as a result of research* which found that nearly half (47 per cent) of people found it helpful to sleep on a decision when making a purchase for the home.

Over half of Brits (51 per cent) admitted to taking up to 24 hours to make a decision when buying a piece of art.

The public can enter to win the chance to ‘sleep before they buy’ by tweeting the hashtag #sleeponit by no later than midday on Wednesday 6 March.

The lucky winner will be notified on Thursday 7 March and invited to attend the fair on the day of their choosing, select their prospective piece of art to sleep with for the night to allow them some time to relax and consider their chosen work.

To announce the initiative, the Affordable Art Fair has created an original image, inspired by a famous installation shown at the Tate, to demonstrate what the winner will experience.

Nicky Wheeler, Fair Director of the Affordable Art Fair Battersea said “We’ve had so many comments from visitors over the years who have found a piece of art they like but are reluctant to make such an important decision on the spot. Often customers fall in love with a piece at first sight but sometimes thinking time can help in making the right decision – one person will be given this chance at the Affordable Art Fair next week.”

The Affordable Art Fair is the UK’s friendliest and most welcoming art fair, well-loved for its informal and un-stuffy atmosphere. With over 100 galleries exhibiting art priced from £40 – £4,000, the fair runs at the Battersea Evolution building in Battersea Park from 7 – 10 March.

The May Fair Hotel Appoints Artist in Residence For Art13 London

Situated in the heart of the Mayfair village, the May Fair Hotel has been a by-word for artistry and elegance since the twenties. To celebrate it’s status as the official hotel partner for Art13 London; London’s most exciting new art fair (Olympia Grand Hall, 1-3 March 2013), the luxury hotel has appointed it’s very first Artist in Residence.

 

British fashion and celebrity portrait artist Marc McGreevy has been commissioned by the May Fair Hotel to capture the scenes, sights and sounds of one of London’s most iconic hotels. Guests of the hotel during Art13 London will have the opportunity to take home their very own unique portraits by Marc McGreevy and view the artwork on an exclusive online gallery.

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Images left to right: Marc McGreevy; Charlie France sketch by Marc McGreevy; Jourdan Dunn sketch by Marc McGreevy; The May Fair Hotel, London.

 

Marc McGreevy is an internationally acclaimed fashion artist and designer.  He began his career designing fashion layouts and creating unique jewellery collections for high fashion magazines such as Elle and Vogue.  Marc’s passion for fashion and illustration coupled with his natural creativity has secured him a position as one of Britain’s finest.  He now travels the world illustrating the most spectacular fashions with unrivalled flair, sophistication and poise.  Previous commissions include Jerry Hall, Actor David Morrissey, Actresses Joan Collins, Linda Gray, Kim Cattrall and Academic Germaine Greer.

 

Marc McGreevy will be in residence at the May Fair Hotel daily from 3pm-6pm, 1-3 March 2013.  Guests will have the opportunity to take their own exclusive art-work home with them. Illustrations will also be exhibited in an online gallery www.themayfairhotel.co.uk.

 

The May Fair Hotel, 
Stratton Street, 
London, 
W1J 8LT,

 

 

Artist Stirrups Horsemeat Controversy.

A piece of art shocked commuters in the capital yesterday as graphic artist, Patrick Thomas, debuted his latest provocative piece, ‘Moo’, to the public, making more than a subtle nod to the current horse-meat scandal.

 

Ahead of the Affordable Art Fair which takes place early next month, the Berlin-based artist, known for creating powerful messages through the use of iconic images, previewed ‘Moo’ at Leicester Square where the artwork was aired across the tube station throughout the day.

The piece attracted plenty of attention with many commuters posing next to the displays and tweeting their amusement. However, some remained oblivious as they tucked into their burgers and strolled past the art with their weekly shopping.

Artist, Patrick Thomas, who created the piece said “It is the job of an artist to be witness to his time in history and art should have a social function and be an intrinsic part of everyday life. Art can be a powerful weapon and although this print is intentionally humorous; in the context of the horsemeat scandal currently dominating the UK press – it conceals a darker message.”

Patrick Thomas is one of thousands of contemporary artists showing at the Affordable Art Fair this March and can be found at Outline Editions’ gallery stand. The ‘Moo’ silkscreen print is an edition of 100, priced at £145 each.

The Affordable Art Fair is London’s friendliest and most welcoming art fair, with all art priced from £40 – £4,000, the fair runs at the Battersea Evolution building in Battersea Park from 7 – 10 March.

Frieze Art Fair 2011

I have a theory on art which is this: If something makes you ask if it’s art, it’s art. Because it made you ask the question and think. There are a few exceptions to this rule, for example, putting a fire extinguisher on a wall and saying it’s art, isn’t. It is just lazy.

My first thought on the Frieze was how awful the queues were – luckily being press I bypassed them. The second was irritation at having my bag searched going in and out.

When you are inside, the main thing that strikes you is the sheer size of it.

There are over 1,000 artists and 177 exhibitors from 33 countries. With the right online school your art work could be showcased in art fairs like this one.

It’s an art lovers dream. I walked around the vastness thinking: “Recession? What recession?”

Artists that really stuck out for me where Rashid Rana, Nathalie Djurberg, Elmgreen and Dragset -them of the morgue art – and Karl Holmqvist.

Neon letter art is popular. One even bears the words ‘Who runs this mother?’ taking inspiration from a song by Beyonce.  I also loved ‘The Neme Sims’, an extraordinary project by Muntean and Rosenblum for Georg Kargl. The  Austrian duo made a grey house with a garden, furniture, and art.

I love art fairs, and the Frieze is one of the biggest there is. Definitely worth going to.

The Frieze was sponsored by Deutsche Bank for the eighth consecutive year. Proves that banks have at least some purpose.

The Frieze runs from 13th to 16th of October every year.

Frieze.com</