Art for the people … at everyday people prices
Brisbane art lovers have embraced the Affordable Art Fair which soon returns to deliver art to the people.
Art can sometimes be a bit elitist which is why it’s good to have an event such as the Affordable Art Fair. Stephanie Kelly, Asia Pacific Director of the Affordable Art Fair (AAF), is leading a movement to break down barriers within the global art fair phenomenon.
After its Brisbane launch in 2024, AAF returns to the Brisbane Showgrounds 8-11 May.
“We bring art to the people”, Stephanie Kelly says. “A city like Brisbane is busy, and it’s hard to find time to go around galleries. At the Affordable Art Fair, we bring it to you; people can be immersed in the art world for four days. We have 400-500 artists exhibiting. You can see an artist in action, talk to galleries about your interests, hear from specialists about collecting and displaying art, and be part of the art tribe. You can have a coffee, bring your children to a workshop, and relax.”
Kelly’s experience, first working with AAF in Hong Kong in 2013, launching the fair in Australia in 2019, to her current role as regional director, has taught her that audiences are highly aesthetically tuned.
“They can find their style within a two- or three-hour window,” she says. “And, given that our version of affordable is prices capped at $10,000, down to $100, there is diversity in the range of art and media shown, with 50 galleries in the venue.”
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This year Brisbane AAF will be at the Brisbane Showgrounds and follows the inaugural local event last year which attracted 10,500 visitors, with more expected this time. The fair’s ambition is to spotlight under-recognized artists, using the model Affordable Art Fair has pioneered internationally. Fairs are held in cities including Berlin, Brisbane, London, Brussels, New York, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Launched in London in 1999, AAF is visited globally by 220,000 people every year.
‘we want to convert art lovers to art buyers. Last year over 2000 people left with art’
Its guidelines for participants include that each stand shows a minimum of three artists, with galleries joined by artist collectives. In Brisbane in 2024, half of the artists exhibited were from a First Nations background, and this year a First Nations spotlight features Lauren Rogers (Ngarabul, Torres Strait Islander), Nikita Newley (Wuthathi-Darumbal), Chloe Watego (Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi) and Nathan Rodgers-Falk (Ngemba, Murrawarri, Wiradjuri). Yaama Ganu Gallery, a not-for-profit gallery supporting artists from the Kamilaroi Nation and Aboriginal-managed Art Centres, is working with Aboriginal Contemporary to exhibit at Affordable Art Fair Brisbane for the first time.
“One of our roles is to grow the art market, and grow galleries,” Stephanie Kelly says.” And we want to convert art lovers to art buyers. Last year over 2000 people left with art. Every piece at Affordable Art Fair Brisbane is from a living artist, every artwork on display lists a sale price, and every piece can be bought, wrapped and taken home on the same day.”
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Nick Olsen, New Moon over Windsor Backyard
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Nick Olsen, The Tree House (Graceville Streets)
Brisbane’s Nick Olsen was profiled as AAF Feature Artist in 2024, and will continue his role this year with his images profiling Queensland architecture and Brisbane scenes on billboards around the city. Trained at QCA by local luminaries William Robinson and June Tupicoff, Olsen has built his career on “representing Brisbane-ness” through the city’s unique architectural character.
“I’m a frustrated architect. Over the decades I’ve seen Brisbane grow up into a modern metropolis. I see houses as belongings and objects. I used to look at the ridges of Brisbane – Enoggera Terrace, Stanley Terrace, until the houses started looking back at me, their sleepy little faces… People have caught up with me in terms of valuing their character.”
Being featured artist at the AAF also brings Olsen’s process into the public domain. He will be painting at the Fair, and part of the action, an opportunity to give back from his wealth of expertise.
Stephanie Kelly says that Olsen’s work delivers the “essence of a Queensland holiday” and that as campaign artist he “captures the heart”.
“I’m looking forward to another fair that is beautiful, bright and poppy,” Kelly says. “We do Fashion at the Fair on opening night and the Sunday is Mothers’ Day. Every fair has its unique characteristics. Melbourne is very considered, and in Sydney it’s a party. Brisbane is a happy fair. It is so well supported – actually, I’ve never been thanked so much at a fair.”
Affordable Art Fair, Brisbane Showgrounds’ Exhibition Building, Bowen Hills, May 8-11.