The international art fair calendar for 2024 launched with the opening of the London Art Fair, founded in 1989 by London’s Business Design Centre in Islington. A fair dedicated to modern and contemporary art.

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Established modern art galleries dominated the mezzanine. The David Hockneys, Michael Craig Martins and Tracey Emins were amply scattered through these main spaces and the atmosphere of the Late on Thursday evening was lively.

Two galleries stuck out in contrast to the others. Jealous Gallery and TAG Fine Arts present recognisable, deeply relevant art that feels so inherently now. Chris Mitton’s hyper-realistic ‘59FIFTY NYY Baseball Cap’  and packet of Oreo’s, David Shrigley’s satirical drawings and Dave Buonaguidi’s neon pink letters shouting at you to get out and explore. The galleries’ exhibits were loud, bold and fun and, unsurprisingly, packed with people.

The fair paid particular heed to the discerning young art lover, with the introduction of a dedicated Prints and Editions section as well as the inspiring Encounters.

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Officially Encounters ‘showcases … contemporary art from across the globe featuring young, up and coming galleries eager to present their emerging artists on a major platform’. But it does more than that. Encounters is exciting because of the collective nature of many of the galleries. They go beyond the definition of a gallery to encompass so much more. Through multifaceted means, these galleries champion artists, ways of practice and inspiring others in a more holistic way.

London Paint Club showcases the wealth of talent here in London. Founder, Kelly Foster, has created a community of contemporary painters and paint enthusiasts in London and beyond, born of the pandemic and the need for connection.

Another exhibit of note within the Encounters area was Outside In. Outside In provides a platform for artists who encounter significant barriers to the art world due to health, disability, social circumstance, or isolation.

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‘Outsider’ art, art created by self-taught artists, is a disparate and often misunderstood branch of art and the stories behind the art and the unconventional styles are the backbone. Outside In’s exhibit was certainly unconventional in comparison to the other exhibits but in a way that felt fresh, rejuvenated and inspiring. The stories of the artists were first and foremost, and the support that the charity offers to its artists is wholly sustainable and celebratory.

The inherent holistic approach to art and the art world in the Encounters area of LAF stood out to us at Chorus Arts as truly inspiring. It reaffirmed that the collaborative and supportive spirit produces great, resonant art. 

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For a brief immersion of what’s hot in modern and contemporary arts, London Art Fair has more to offer than meets the eye.

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