Following a surprisingly buoyant year, 2024 looks to be a cracker with some wonderful exhibitions on the horizon as well as plenty of strong art fairs and auctions to be held in the Spring. The early part of the year here in London is spent trailing through post-Christmas admin and getting tickets and rooms booked for the various fairs and gallery shows that are forthcoming.
These are a few of the art fair highlights that are most certainly worth a look (check my ‘Events’ schedule for further information):
London Art Fair (Islington)
A mish mash of young, and more established, Modern British Art in a relatively central Islington location. The best works tend to be in the middle (mezzanine) tier with the likes of Osbourne Samuel, Crane Kalman and Austin/Desmond exhibiting. Expect to see a multitude of Moore, Chadwick and Hepworth amongst many hundreds of David Shrigley poster-prints.
BRAFA (Brussels)
A fair that is growing and will soon become a true competitor to the mighty TEFAF; I have clients from Germany, northern France and Holland that come to this event for the vast variety of work but also the central location – it is easy to access and boasts plentiful stands from across the spectrum.
TEFAF (Maastricht)
The best fair in the world, bar none. The sheer range and calibre of the work is always second to none. Though Basel may boast a stronger Modern section and certainly a more vibrant Contemporary section the joy of TEFAF is in being able to see so much quality from almost every place on earth and every period in history. From 3,000 BC jewellery to Anselm Keifer collages it is all on show at TEFAF.
Salon du Dessin (Paris)
This gorgeous art fair is small but perfectly formed. The finest works on paper from across all periods. I know many collectors that only ever visit TEFAF and the Salon du Dessin fairs as they are both magnets for connoisseurs. Well worth going, if only for the Old Master drawings on view.
As to the auctions, I shall have more upon which to write in the coming weeks, but I am sure that the March sales will be full of gems. Do get in touch if you would like any advice on building, or starting, your collection – collecting works of art is great fun and would promise to be the most fun, fruitful and fulfilling of 2024 pastimes.