Highlights Of Autumn Art Fair Season In London

As Autumn arrives in London and summer fades into the distance, a host of art fairs are on the horizon to suit different tastes and budgets. From the OG Frieze London where the world’s blue chip galleries present their highest value artists, to the artist-fronted The Other Art Fair which offers a more affordable selection of art and celebrates its 100th edition, the 1-54 fair spotlighting art from Africa and the diaspora to the Women In Art fair redressing the gender imbalance in the art world, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Here’s a selection of the art fairs I’m looking forward to:

British Art Fair Saatchi Gallery (September 26 to 29, 2024)

Modern British and Contemporary Art is the focus of the British Art Fair, which was founded in 1988 and takes over the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea. British Art Fair kicks off the London art fair autumn season with some of the most recognisable names of British art including David Hockney, Bridget Riley, Frank Auerbach, L.S. Lowry, Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.

There are also exciting young and emerging artists to be found in the SOLO Contemporary section curated by Xavier Ellis, such as James Vaulkhard at Guerin Projects. ‘PIVOTAL: Digitalism’ will showcase digital art and look out for a special exhibition of pioneering female modernist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham CBE (1912-2004).

PAD London Berkeley Square (October 8 to 13, 2024)

Until PAD London was founded by Parisian antiques dealer Patrick Perrin, design lovers had to travel to the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris for the original fair celebrating 20th Century and contemporary design. PAD Paris began in 1998, and since 2007 PAD London has taken over Berkeley Square in Mayfair. The 16th edition of PAD London isn’t limited to design, there is also jewellery, ceramics and decorative arts to be found amongst the presentations by 62 galleries from around the world. I’m looking forward to discovering the work of three Indian design studios including Vikram Goyal’s collaboration with Italian collectible design gallery Nilufar and Dhruv Agarwal’s ‘Bloom’ chandelier, as well as a new collection by Korean designer Kyeok Kim, Brazilian Modernist design from Oscar Niemeyer and Juliana Vasconcellos, and Studio Renn’s jewellery inspired by natural forms such as Cacti.

1-54 Somerset House (October 10 to 13, 2024)

Referring to the fifty-four countries constituting the African continent, 1-54 was founded by Touria El-Glaoui and is the only international art fair centred around contemporary art of Africa and its diaspora. 1-54 began in Marrakech and now has three editions annually - in Marrakech, New York and London, as well as a Paris pop-up.

Now in its twelfth edition, 1-54 London will include a special spotlight on Ghanaian, Brazilian and Moroccan artists, and a presentation in the special projects section by Oluwole Omofemi, founder of Nigerian artist agency PieceUnique. More than 160 artists representing Africa and the African diaspora will be exhibited including established names Esther Mahlangu, Tuli Mekondjo and Mous Lamrabat, juxtaposed with emerging talents such as Freya Bramble-Carter, Layo Bright and Kofi Perry.

Frieze London and Frieze Masters The Regent’s Park (October 9 to 13, 2024 )

Frieze Sculpture The Regent’s Park (September 18 to October 27, 2024)

A stroll through the manicured gardens of Regent’s Park to experience Frieze Sculpture as the autumn leaves fall from the trees, is a relaxing way to get from Frieze London to Frieze Masters. While tickets for the art fairs are relatively expensive, Frieze Sculpture is a free public art initiative, and is installed in Regent’s Park to coincide with Frieze London and Frieze Masters. Now in its 12th year, Frieze Sculpture is curated by Fatoş Üstek and features 22 artists from five continents including a strong showing of women such as Leonora Carrington, Zanele Muholi, Libby Heaney and Anna Boghiguian.

Frieze London’s curated section Artist-to-Artist will feature solo presentations by Hurvin Anderson, Lubaina Himid, Rashid Johnson, Glenn Ligon, Zineb Sedira and Yinka Shonibare. There will also be a new themed section curated by Pablo José Ramírez exploring diasporic and indigenous histories through ceramic works.

Over at Frieze Masters Sheena Wagstaff is curating the Studio section featuring Isabella Ducrot, Nathalie Du Pasquier, Shirazeh Houshiary and Doris Salcedo. Frieze Masters usually has the feeling of a small museum where you can experience objets d’art, paintings, ancient Asian art, Latin manuscripts, photography and antiquities spanning several centuries under one roof. Some highlights to look forward to include the Spotlight section featuring artists from the 1950s–70s including Judy Chicago and Balraj Khanna, and a journey through almost two centuries of sculptural artistry from Rodin and Degas to Ossip Zadkine at Bowman Sculpture.

The Other Art Fair The Truman Brewery (October 10 to 13, 2024)

While only those with deep pockets can afford to buy at the luxury art fairs of Mayfair and Regent’s Park, it’s possible to discover upcoming artists and start off a collection on a smaller budget at The Other Art Fair in London’s East End. Celebrating its 100th Edition this October by bringing together 200 emerging artists, The Other Art Fair is always a great place to meet unrepresented artists in person and hear about their work. Dan Hillier will be guest artist of the TOAF 100th Edition, which will partner with Choose Love and feature a special project with photographer Rankin.

Women in Art Fair Mall Galleries, The Mall, (October 9 to 12, 2024)

Women in Art Fair was founded in 2023 as a response to the gender imbalance in the art world, and foregrounds women artists, curators and gallerists. The 2024 edition will feature 20th and 21st Century female artists. Curator Virginia Damtsa responds to the theme of ‘Women’s Cycles’ with an exhibition of six women artists including Poppy De Havilland, Sofia Laskari and Rose-Finn Kelsey, who are exploring issues of biological, psychological, emotional and psychological cycles.