Affordable Art Fair returns to Hampstead to champion the best in emerging & established creative talent

• The Affordable Art Fair returns to Hampstead Heath from 10 – 13 May, with contemporary works from up-and-coming talent exhibiting alongside household names, priced from just £100 up to £6,000

• Innovative new installations include Mella Shaw’s Harvest, which highlights the negative effects of plastic pollution in a particularly relevant political climate

• Workshop hosted by celebrated ceramicist Nam Tran offers visitors the chance to create their own ‘Wabi-Sabi’ inspired work

The Affordable Art Fair returns to leafy Hampstead Heath this spring (10 – 13 May) with an exciting showcase of the best in emerging and established creative talent.

As well as showcasing the latest art trends for 2018, the fair will shine a spotlight on work using the most innovative techniques in infrared photography and 3D live scanning, as well as celebrating the amazing life stories of professional lawyers and footballers who have since found new identities as artists.

Preview the latest trends

Visitors to the fair can expect to see the latest trends in art, including statement pieces by Christine Relton and Tom Marine, who paint collaboratively to create their large-scale artworks, as well as the hyperreal aesthetic of Laurence Jones, including his large-scale night time condo scenes. Big wall art has seen a recent surge in popularity, with searches on Pinterest up 600 % – more than any other design trend in the Pinterest 100.

Figurative art is also set to be popular at the fair, following in the footsteps of recent hit exhibitions of figurative art at some of London’s leading galleries by the likes of Picasso, Freud and Bacon. More people than ever are snapping up these artworks, with google searches for ‘figurative art’ surging 70% in the past 12 months. Artist Henrietta Dubrey will be returning to the fair following her recent sell out figurative show, as well as Ed Hodgkinson, Adam Riches and Hock Tee Tan.

(L) Night Pool II by Laurence Jones. Acrylic and ink on linen. 136 x 145cm. £4,500. RHG NYC.
(R) B – Looking Up by Ed Hodgkinson. Pigment print on Hahnemuhle Photorag. 76 x 59cm. TAG Fine Arts

Celebrating the imperfect

Art lovers potty about porcelain can expect an array of handcrafted fine art ceramics to feature exclusively at the fair. Shunning mass-produced items, ceramicists like Nam Tran create beautiful and unique artworks which are the perfect collectors’ items for any home. Working within the idea of Wabi-Sabi (侘寂), an acceptance of the transience and irregular nature of life, Nam’s work celebrates the beauty in imperfections. Visitors will be able to try this for themselves as Nam hosts his own ceramics workshop.

Ego Man Army by Nam Tran. Ceramic. Sizes vary. Prices begin at £250 for individual sculptures. Mint Art Gallery

Nam will also unveil a brand-new installation in the foyer, inspired by the Chinese Terracotta Army, last showcased in the blockbuster 2007 British Museum exhibition. His own army of Ego Men are arranged to face east, mimicking the original construction, and will feature different sizes of individually-cast sculptures to indicate their rank from foot soldiers through to one impressive emperor surrounded by his 100-strong ceramic army. Displayed as a group, the figures will be available individually and prices will begin from £250.

Emerging talent

This year’s Made in Arts London showcase will shine a spotlight on emerging talent from University of the Arts London graduates whose work explores the ideas of identity and persona. Recently graduated artists in the showcase include Marco Pantaleoni and Stella Kapezanou. Working with a 3D live scanner, Marco investigates self-image and will be letting people have their own 3D scans created during the fair. Recent graduate Stella Kapezanou works from her own reference imagery to create vibrant pieces which capture commercial culture in a blunt and straightforward way, giving her paintings an aura of vulgarity, and creating, as she describes, “a playground of fakeness”.

(L) David by Stella Kapezanou. Oil and acrylic on canvas. 170 x 210cm. £3,900.
(R) The Girl in Miu Miu by Stella Kapezanou. Oil and acrylic on canvas. 210 x 170cm. £3,900

(L) 1201 Ersgua by Marco Pantaleoni. 3D scan and C-type print on Fuji gloss paper mounted on dibond. 102 x 102cm. £1,600.
(R) 1001 Lyto by Marco Pantaleoni. 3D scan, CYMK screenprint, acrylic on canvas. 122 x 122cm. £800

When a side hustle becomes a full-time career

Excitingly, artist Jody Craddock will be exhibiting at the fair for the first time. Formerly a Premiership footballer for Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Jody’s artwork was originally a way for him to relax during his 20 years as a professional sportsman. Now better known for his talent off the pitch, his paintings span a range of subjects including classical statues with a modern street art edge.

Similarly, artist Kate Ballis swapped her career as a corporate lawyer for the camera lens, creating beautiful photographs using infrared technology. Relying on sunshine to make her extraordinary images, Kate’s new series was initially conceived in Palm Springs, transforming this well-known iconic landscape and lush vegetation into a colour-drenched alternative universe of red, blue, purple and pink hues, reminiscent of David Hockney’s modernist landscapes.

(L) Dream Home by Kate Ballis. Photography, edition of 8. 103 x 153cm. £4,000. ARTITLEDcontemporary.
(R) Dodge by Kate Ballis. Photography, edition of 8. 103 x 153cm. £4,000. ARTITLEDcontemporary

Be one of the first to get your hands on the latest contemporary art at this year’s charity preview which will take place on Wednesday 9 May from 5.30 – 9.30pm, in support of North London Hospice.

Affordable Art Fair Hampstead opens its doors on Thursday 10 May and runs until Sunday 13 May. For those unable to attend the fair, the Hampstead edit is now available on the Affordable Art Fair online shop, offering nationwide delivery and free returns.

Book tickets and browse art at affordableartfair.com