It is a known fact in today’s world Art Fairs are more than just large spaces that harbour beautiful paintings. It is a world that provide visitors with immersive insights into the numerous works on display, the talented artists who created them, and the influence art has on places that host them. From Africa to Asia and to other parts of the world, fairs are known to provide broad insights into various movements, mediums, and styles in addition to offering one-of-a-kind experiences like private conversations with influential figures in the art world, educational workshops on our favorite art movements, and curated guides to the best local art destinations.
This curated list of art fairs caters to a diverse range of tastes and preferences- whether you have a deep appreciation for classic old masters kind of painting, a keen interest to materials/fabrics or technology-infused art. These fairs showcase a variety of mediums and styles, ensuring there’s something for every new art aficionado.
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair
Founded in 2013 by Touria El Glaoui, 1-54 is the leading global art fair committed to providing visibility to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. With three editions per year—in London, New York and Marrakech—as well as a pop-up fair in Paris, 1-54 strives to promote a community of diverse perspectives, including evolving interpretations of the diasporic experience. The fair features leading international galleries specialising in contemporary African art alongside artists talks, panel discussions and a Special Projects programme. The fair’s name draws reference to the fifty-four countries that constitute the African continent.
Upcoming Edition: 1-54 London (12 – 15 October 2023)
FNB Art Joburg
Based in Johannesburg, FNB Art Joburg is the leading and longest running contemporary African art fair on the continent. FNB Art Joburg plays an instrumental role in developing and sustaining a commercial industry that centres around African and diasporic practitioners. A platform where curatorial and commercial interventions meet, the fair is divided into six specialised sections: gallery HUB, gallery LAB, MAX, ETC, AUX, and ORG sections.
gallery HUB, the fair’s central section presents the best in contemporary Africa art from across the continent and the world to reflect the fair’s objective to be a quality rather than quantity focused fair.
gallery LAB, an incubation to develop emerging galleries and hybrid art spaces, presents and test new ideas and business models aimed at transforming the contemporary African art landscape.
The MAX section houses installations or works that would present a challenge if presented in the conventionally sized gallery booth.
Giving fair goers the opportunity to engage with master print and publishing houses, the ETC section offers an abundance of books, prints, catalogues and zines.
A representation of Johannesburg’s seminal art institutions, the ORG section looks to redefine how the public engages with organisations. Whether museums, universities or private institutions, the section is a hands-on approach to examine bodies that were established for the good of the public.
Spanning talks, screenings, public lectures and audio essays, the AUX section, sponsored by ITOO ArtInsure, brings industry leaders to the public to explore a plethora of topics impacting the contemporary art world. Beyond, but centred around the three-day fair, FNB Art Joburg remains committed to audience and collector development through an educational platform and immersive programming respectively known as ArtJoburg.com, the BMW Young Collectors Co., and Open City.
Art Basel
Art Basel, the premier global forum for bringing together collectors, galleries, and artists, was established by gallerists in 1970. The Basel, Hong Kong, Paris, and Miami Beach Art Basel exhibitions, as well as its online viewing rooms, are key components in assisting galleries in fostering the careers of artists. In an effort to improve the art market’s openness, we jointly released The Art Market with our Lead Partner UBS. The initiatives of Art Basel work to develop distinctive artist-led experiences and bolster regional art communities.
Here, visitors can encounter a wide range of artistic mediums, including painting, sculpture, computer art, and cinema. Throughout the weekend, there is also a Conversations program that features private conversations between well-known figures in the art world.
Applications for Art Basel Hong Kong 2024 are now closed. Applications for Film, Kabinett and Encounters sectors are open for accepted galleries.
The Armory Show
The Armory Show is one of the most well-known art fairs in New York City. Named after the first modern art show of its kind to be held in the United States, which took place in 1913 and brought the vogue European artists and movements to the continent, The Armory Show brings the world’s leading international contemporary and modern art galleries to New York each year. The fair plays a leading role in the city’s position as an important cultural capital through elevated presentations, thoughtful programming, curatorial leadership, meaningful institutional partnerships, and engaging public art activations.
Art X Lagos
The dynamic platform ART X Lagos was established to promote and encourage the diversity of contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. Founded in 2016 by Tokini Peterside-Schwebig, has grown to be an important part of the African art market. ART X Lagos, the first event of its kind in West Africa, is a singular cultural occasion that beyond the scope of conventional art fairs and offers many days of exciting art experiences and events.
Since its debut, ART X Lagos has grown to host galleries and artists from over 40 countries and become renowned for its ambitious programme, which includes ART X Talks — a lively panel discussion series; ART X Live! — a one-of-a-kind showcase featuring collaborations between some of the fastest-rising artists and musicians on the African continent; as well as specially curated presentations and interactive projects. These programmes have featured an array of emerging and established artists from the continent and diaspora, including keynote artists such as El Anatsui, Wangechi Mutu, Njideka Akunyili-Crosby, Yinka Shonibare CBE, and Hank Willis Thomas.
This eighth edition of ART X Lagos will be held from 2 – 5 November 2023.
