Until this fair was launched, few would have thought a sleek, airy, unashamedly contemporary showcase for art would have made such an impact in the month that is part of the Season, with all the traditional baggage that it implies.
In retrospect, such a fair seems the obvious complement to the other shows in town, but it was young organiser Ralph Ward-Jackson who thought it through, took the gamble and, in 1999, launched artLONDON to immediate critical and commercial acclaim. The success rolled on.
At that first fair, there were just 30 dealers. But for the sixth staging – from June 9 to 13 – Mr Ward-Jackson has brought in 75 dealers in paintings, sculpture, works on paper, photography and ceramics. They are housed at Burton’s Court, St. Leonard’s Terrace, Chelsea, SW3, not far from Sloane Square, in a 50,000 sq. ft luxury air-conditioned marquee.
This year there are 18 newcomers and the fair’s international dimension is enhanced by the inclusion of overseas galleries such as Praxis from Buenos Aires and Mark Hachem from Paris. They join such established artLONDON names as Messum, Piano Nobile, Jonathan Clark, Jonathan Cooper, Flowers East and the Redfern Gallery.
The fair always looks stylish and does attract the young buyers who currently are the holy grail of antiques fair organisers.
However, as the fair becomes an established part of the June scene, the organiser is going to find it more and more difficult to keep it fresh. An event of this nature relies on ringing the changes and, although it presents 20th century and Contemporary art, a fresh approach is always necessary.
Glancing through the list of exhibitors, I note that photography is not as strong this year as last, but British portraiture, which is apparently going through something of a golden age, is represented strongly on the stands and in the reception area where a themed display presents likenesses of the likes of Cate Blanchett, Kylie Minogue, Peter Gabriel and Sir Patrick Moore.
You will also notice around the stands a number of family connections, such as the father and son show on the stand of Piano Nobile who present work by Frans Widerberg, Norway’s most eminent living painter, alongside the sculptures of his son Nico.
And, as in past years, dealers are encouraged to mount one-man or themed shows on their stands. With plenty of big-name artists on sale, prices range up to over £100,000, but the fair is affordable and you can buy at under £1000.
Admission is £10.
Now we art six – and in hindsight an obvious success
NOW in its sixth year artLONDON has proved a popular and worthy addition to the roster of June fairs. Indeed, in this relatively short time it has become as much a part of the London summer scene as its much more venerable and mainstream stablemates, such as Grosvenor House and Olympia.
