British Art Fair was one of the original fairs to present Modern British and Contemporary art, founded back in 1988, it now occupies the iconic Saatchi Gallery in London’s Chelsea. The 2024 edition of British Art Fair features presentations by 60 leading galleries art on display from the 20th Century through to contemporary, and for the first time there is a section dedicated to digital art.
Culturalee visited the Collector’s Preview and selected six favourite exhibitions to check out.
WaterAid is the official charity partner of British Art Fair this year. Celebrities and leading contemporary artists including Dame Zandra Rhodes, Boy George, Colette Colbert, Pam Hogg, Pure Evil, Nettie Wakefield and Sophie Tea have repurposed toilet seats as unique works of art for a fundraising charity auction in a humorously named ‘Best Seat in the House’.
SOLO Contemporary is curated by Zavier Ellis and features presentations of contemporary artists including; a brilliant ‘alternative art history’ series of paintings by Matthew Collings featuring familiar art icons including Tracey Emin, Picasso and Frida Kahlo; James Vaulkhard’s fauvist paintings and pastel drawings of Nairobi at Guerin Projects; SOLO Contemporary award winner Abe Odedina’s magical serpentine paintings at Virginia Damtsa; and Kate McCrickard’s Schiele-inspired boudoir scenes at Julian Page Fine Art.
PIVOTAL: Digitalism is a new addition to the fair and features a selection of digital art, with highlights including David Sheldrick’s AI photography and Cecilie Waagner Falkenstrom’s video installation offering a peek into the next frontier of art.
Cynthia Corbett is exhibiting a varied group of artists with standout pieces including geometric textile canvases by Margo Selby, intriguing ceramic figures by Gemma Gowland, and a vast canvas by Scottish illusionist painter Alastair Gordon, who merges historical references and familiar images of Scottish nature with the art of trompe l’oeil.
GBS Fine Art are exhibiting artworks in a variety of mediums, with intricate sculpture by Cathy de Monchaux, atmospheric paintings from Gill Rocca and Emma Tod paintings and Susannah Baker-Smith’s enigmatic photographic floral still life’s and portraits.
The Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust presents a special exhibition of works by the pioneering Scottish modernist artist, a timely tribute as 2024 is a pivotal year for her legacy with a documentary by filmmaker Mark Cousins and two new books celebrating her work.
The British Art Fair is at Saatchi Gallery until Sunday 29th September.
