The fifth artLONDON will be held from June 4 to 8 in a 50,000sqft, luxury air-conditioned marquee at a new location, Burton’s Court, St Leonard’s Terrace, London SW3, just 50 yards away from its previous site in the grounds of the Duke of York’s Head-quarters off the King’s Road, Chelsea.
The spectacular success of this fair is down to the vision of Pimlico-based organiser Ralph Ward-Jackson.
Four years ago there seemed no room on the London scene for a new June fair and when Mr Ward-Jackson, who is still just 32, came fresh to the art scene with a project offering 20th century and contemporary art housed in a Chelsea marquee, very few thought it would take off.
But it not only took off, it soared and artLONDON is now one of the most popular fixtures of the summer.
The fair managed a fresh, airy, uncluttered and contem-porary look which actually brought in a new breed of younger buyer. Works are priced up to £100,000 but there is always plenty on offer for less than £500. The fair has been applauded for its approachability, but this attribute is laced with a degree of sophistication.
When launched, 30 dealers took stands but this year 70 are taking space. These include some top international dealers in contemporary painting, although there is also sculpture, ceramics and an increasing presence of photography.
Among 13 galleries making their debut next month are East London-based Flowers East, a leading light on the British contemporary art scene; Oxfordshire’s Merriscourt Gallery with a stable of young artists; artHester from Cambridge with work from the 1960s to the present; Mayfair’s Ikra Gallery with new Russian work and Chicago contemporary specialists Beloc Lownes.
New photography exhibitors include Michael Hoppen and Eric Franck Fine Art, both at the cutting edge of the medium.
Flowers East are bringing new work by Peter Howson and sculpture by Nicola Hicks; Gallery Pangolin from Gloucestershire will feature Damien Hirst and West London gallery Piano Nobile will offer new works by the hottest portraitist of the moment Adam Birtwistle, whose sitters include Jeremy Irons and David Hockney.
Wales’s premier gallery for modern and contemporary art, Martin Tinney from Cardiff, celebrate the centenary of Ceri Richards (1903-1971) with a selection of his paintings, and Michael Hoppen brings new work by Desirée Dolron, star of the recent Paris Photography Fair.
Many galleries mount one- or two-man shows, but although the thrust is contemporary it is not overwhelming and the charm of this increasingly successful event is that there is something to suit (almost) every taste.
Admission is £10.
Contemporary influence grows stronger by the year
JUNE looms and the annual antiques season is due to get underway. Fairs are at the hub of proceedings and while Grosvenor House initiated this summer celebration of collecting and connoisseurship back in the 1930s, the latest addition to the June roster, artLONDON, has made its mark in a remarkably short time.
