Democratization of art: “Affordable Art Fair” in Berlin

The “Affordable Art Fair Berlin” has opened its doors and presents art from 50 galleries from the region, the country and internationally – with the aim of making art accessible to everyone.

At Arena Berlin in Alt-Treptow, visitors can discover contemporary artworks until April 14th and choose between pieces priced between €100 and €10,000. Admission prices are also affordable – under €20 for the entire weekend.

The fair thus offers the opportunity to acquire high-quality art at affordable prices and at the same time to make new artistic discoveries – a must for art lovers and collectors alike.

Highlights at a glance

• 50 international galleries will showcase newcomer talents as well as editions by top-class artists such as Georg Baselitz , Cornelia Schleime and emerging talents such as Kisook Lee, Amalia Crisan, Enam Bosokah and Tahir Ozgur.
• Works from painting, sculpture, photography and printmaking will be presented at the Arena Berlin.
• From Berlin, galleries such as artnow Gallery , whitegrid gallery and Kunsthaus Artes participating, while international galleries include Nagyházi Contemporary from Hungary and T&B Gallery from South Korea.
• Emerging Artist special exhibition “Tensions” with four representatives of the Berlin art scene: Nina Kuttler, Jana Schumacher, Jonas Büßecker and Viktor Petrov.
• Urban art artist Tomislav Topic presents a site-specific installation in the entrance area of ​​the Arena Berlin.

Website : all information about the trade fair in Berlin can be found here.

Mission: Democratization of art

In the “Emerging Artists” , talented artists who are not yet represented by a gallery are given a unique platform to present their work to a broad audience. This special opportunity gives promising talents the chance to establish themselves in the art world and showcase their creative expression.

The annual “Emerging Artists” at the Affordable Art Fair was launched in 2012 by fair director Oliver Lähndorf. The visibility created by the Emerging Artist exhibitions at the Hamburg fair over the past 12 years has played a vital role in supporting and promoting artists' careers during the challenging early stages of the art world.

The guiding principle of the art fair remains to this day: to remove barriers, to create a relaxed atmosphere that makes buying art easy and thus contribute to the democratization of art – in an art market that is changing rapidly.”

The first edition of the Emerging Artists exhibition in Berlin is themed “Tensions” and is curated by fair director Hannah Weber-Heidenfels. It presents four different artistic positions from artists based in Berlin. This year's participating artists are Jana Schumacher , Jonas Büßecker , Nina Kuttler , and Viktor Petrov .

strong presence of women in art is particularly noteworthy . This impressive fact not only demonstrates the diversity and innovative power of the contemporary art scene, but also underscores the significant role that women play in this creative field. Their works enrich the fair with diverse perspectives and inspiring artworks that fascinate and captivate visitors of all genders.

It is an excellent opportunity to experience these talented artists in action and encounter their work live.

background

The Affordable Art Fair founded in London in 1999 by Will Ramsay , Will's Art Warehouse , has a deep passion for art. With his vision and determination, he has succeeded in establishing the art fair in no fewer than 17 cities.

Ramsay's unique combination of academic knowledge and artistic talent has helped make the "Affordable Art Fair" a special meeting place for art lovers and collectors from all over the world.

The democratization of art thus became his very own mission.

The success proves the concept right: Ramsay Fairs , which includes Affordable Art Fair, VOLTA Fairs and British Art, is now one of the world's largest trade fair companies with 21 exhibition venues and a total turnover of 500 billion GBP since 1999.

“The Affordable Art Fair is my life’s work,”

so says founder and CEO Will Ramsay.

“I am very pleased that we can celebrate the first edition of the Berlin fair in this very special year and I am looking forward to meeting art lovers from the capital.”

What's going on? The program

Public guided tours

Discover hidden gems of art that may not be visible at first glance, talk to artists and gallery owners, and hear the exciting stories behind the art.

A free public guided tour takes place daily at 3:00 pm. Simply go to the meeting point at our information stand to experience the art more intensely.

Curator-led tours

Two themed guided tours led by experienced curators are also planned as part of the event. Join us on Friday, April 12th, at 4 pm for the tour “Emerging Artists” “Art under €500” with the fair director Oliver Lähndorf at 5 pm

Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of emerging artists and discover outstanding works available for under €500. These exclusive tours offer you a unique opportunity to experience art from a new perspective and engage in an inspiring dialogue with contemporary artists.

Collector discussions

On Sunday, April 14, 2024, at 1 p.m., the organizers invite you to participate in this year's Collectors Talk in the bar. Visitors can look forward to an inspiring exchange with Dr. Anna Schwan and Kolja Reichert, former art critic for the FAZ, program curator of the Bundeskunsthalle, and now chief curator of the Kunstsammlung NRW.

The two renowned experts will also discuss Kolja Reichert's new book, "Can I do that too?" , which makes art accessible. The book answers 50 frequently asked questions about art, which are also of interest to laypeople without expert knowledge.

Late View

On Friday, April 12th, the fair will be open until 10 pm, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the exhibition in a relaxed atmosphere. Stroll through the rooms with a glass of wine in hand, listen to the infectious beats of DJ Levente , and let yourself be inspired by the artworks.

The Late View on Friday evening offers the ideal opportunity to enjoy the trade fair visit without the hustle and bustle of the weekend and without crowds – also suitable for families with strollers.

Urban Art Entrance Installation

The talented Berlin-based artist Tomislav Topic has created a unique and distinctive body of art throughout his career, known for his colorful and site-specific installations. His focus on color and form allows him to create universally accessible artworks that speak to viewers in an authentic way.

Whether paintings or installations, Tomislav's works are recognized worldwide and bring people of different cultures together through art.

For the Affordable Art Fair Berlin, he collaborated with the artnow gallery to create his impressive ceiling installation.

Special format: Art under 1,000 EUR

The special format “Art under 1,000 EUR” for rather small budgets features a specially curated wall with high-quality works from various galleries.

Packing service

Another unique feature of the fair: Visitors can take the art they purchase home directly in pink packages. The aim is to make buying art as easy as possible for the public.

Visitor information for the art fair

Affordable Art Fair Berlin:

April 12–14, 2024 at Arena Berlin.
April 11: Opening
(Alt-Treptow, Eichenstraße 4).
Opening hours: Fri. 12–10 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Sun.
11 a.m.–6 p.m. Opening on Thursday, April 11, from 6 p.m.
Public Late View on April 12 from 6–10 p.m. with drinks and DJ.

Admission:

• Adults (regular): 16 EUR
• Pensioners, students, people with disabilities, unemployed people: 13 EUR

Tickets are available here

Excerpt from the gallery list:

artnow Gallery (Berlin), whitegrid gallery (Berlin), T&B Gallery (South Korea), Affenfaust Galerie (Hamburg), Paul Roosen Contemporary (Hamburg), Uhlig Gallery (Leipzig), Galerie Flox (Dresden), Pigment Gallery (Barcelona), Kunsthaus Artes (Berlin), 94/97 Gallery (The Hague)

Artists featured (selection):

• International artists: Kisook Lee and Jeong Lim from South Korea (T&B Gallery), Amalia Crişan and Gabriel Marian from Romania (IAGA Contemporary Art), Zita Dávid and Patrícia Jagicza from Hungary (Nagyházi Contemporary), Aren Shahnazaryan and Narek Arzumanyan from Armenia (Spür), Huseyin Taskin, Tahir Ozgur and Niko Guido from Turkey (The Route Gallery), Edvardas Racevicius from Lithuania (Kunsthaus Artes), Enam Bosokah from Ghana (gräfe art.concept)
• Berlin-based artists: Cornelia Schleime, Georg Baselitz (Kunsthaus Artes), Tomislav Topic (artnow Gallery), Christoph Rode (Uhlig Gallery)

Cooperation with the auction platform Catawiki

Catawiki, an online marketplace for special objects, is a partner of this year's Affordable Art Fair Berlin.

From April 5th to 21st, 2024, you have the exclusive opportunity to participate in a high-caliber online auction featuring over 70 carefully selected works of art.

Not only the exhibits displayed at the Affordable Art Fair can be bid on, but also street art or large-format paintings by other up-and-coming talents.

Look forward to abstract and vibrant canvases by Berlin artist Christian Sauer , as well as the impressive architectural works by Andrea Imwiehe , which undoubtedly rank among the highlights of this joint auction .

You are cordially invited to be part of this inspiring auction and enrich your home with a special work of art. Discover your personal favorites among the works of our talented artists and become part of this art event!

Click here to go directly to the auction page