Art Fair East 2019

St Andrews Hall, St Andrews Plain, Norwich

Tickets £3.50 or £3 concessions, under 14s Free

Friday 29th November 10.30am to 5.30pm

Saturday 30th November 10.30am to 6.00pm

Sunday 1st December 10.30am to 5pm

 

The region’s biggest art fair is set to bring a slice of the international art world to Norwich when it opens this week.

The fifth Art Fair East, a major fair for the Eastern Region, will take place at St Andrews Hall, in the heart of the city’s cultural quarter.

The event will see hundreds of artworks gathered together from across the world, alongside a raft of regional talent.
Founded by Norfolk-based artists Will Teather and Brian Korteling, the event takes place between November 28 and December 1.

Will Teather said: “Art Fair East 2019 is our largest event to date with artists and dealers coming from across the UK and overseas, joined by many talents from the East of England.

“It is amazing how word has spread globally about Art Fair East since we founded it five years ago.

“Our aim is to bring a slice of the international art-world to Norwich, under one roof. The event has a real buzz, with the chance to meet so many artists and experts in person.

“It is of course a chance for visitors to express themselves by buying original artwork for the home, support artists and perhaps discover the next big thing.”

This year the fair – which has previously brought signed editions by Banksy and other famous artists to the region – will host artists from Japan, Sweden, Russia, Hungary, Israel and Mexico.

Regional artists taking part include Tanya Goddard and Oswaldo Merchor and well-loved local talents like Chedgey, Louise Stebbing and Lucy Loveheart.

Norfolk by Design will be bringing works by a raft of regional artists to the fair including well-loved artists such as Colin Self and Bridgit Heriz.

Paul Vater from Norfolk by Design said: “We are delighted to present established artists based from across the eastern region at Art Fair East.

“Our intention is to provide the perfect opportunity for visitors to discover paintings, sculpture and high-quality work on paper from artists and makers with distinguished reputations for what they do. Buyers will find art and objects that are affordable, often specific to the area and that will add quality and depth to whatever situation they are sited.”

Painter Daniel Brown, who has a unique take on surrealism, said: “The work I will be showing at Art Fair East is part of an ongoing expression of an imagined world I am exploring. I enjoy using bold colours and graphic styles to convey my interests in science, consciousness and reality.

“I love the conversations that arise with people when viewing my work and because of the surreal nature and connotative imagery I use, this grants interpretations and feelings that I always find intriguing and inspiring.

“I have visited Art Fair East many times and it is always a great event. This year I am excited to be showing my work as it is an amazing opportunity to speak with fellow artists, galleries and art lovers from all over the world.”

Following a 45-year career in theatre, TV and film as a director and producer, John Link became a self-taught artist in 2004. Judi Dench says of his work: “I fell in love with John’s work when I first saw it and would fill my house with it if I had the room!”

John, who is currently working on a full length portrait of Benedict Cumberbatch, said: “This is my first major Art Fair, and I am delighted to have been invited to take part. I have only recently re-located from Brighton to Norwich and am incredibly excited by the hope that this event will widen interest in my work.

“The work is influenced by many years of working on the plays of Shakespeare. Though it is in no way representative of Productions or actors – rather a contemporary ‘take’ on the human condition inspired by the individual stories of his characters.”

Artist Nick Dillon is a Mancunian living in Essex, who makes pop art with a slight difference. Using layered paint to create a textured canvas, the image is painted on top, sometimes including unusual materials like wire cassette tape and LED lighting.

Nick said: “I’m very excited to be present this year – my works have been exhibited there for a couple of years now and received a fantastic reaction, so it will be nice to show and talk about what I make.”

In 2018 Art Fair East featured around 1,000 artworks and attracted thousands of visitors from across the country.

All manner of contemporary art including painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, video art, installation, performance and original limited-edition prints will be on show.

Art experts, galleries and artists will be present to discuss their artworks with visitors, creating a unique experience rarely seen outside London.

It provides a great chance for people to expand their existing art collection or start their own journey into collecting.

Will Teather said: “There is a vast range of work to choose from with prices from as little as £30 for signed prints by new talent through to £15,000 for large scale works by major artists.

“Buying work can be a great chance for self-expression on the part of the buyer, in terms of their personal taste, and of course it supports artists in their endeavours. You might even buy the next Banksy or Van Gogh!”

Art Fair East – which is presented in association with sponsor Musker McIntyre Estate Agents & Financial Services and media partner Archant – will take place at St Andrews Hall, Norwich, from November 28 to December 1.

For more information about Art Fair East visit www.artfaireast.com

About the organisers

Will Teather is an acclaimed artist, arts writer and lecturer at Norwich University of the Arts who has been involved in the organisation of exhibitions across the UK and overseas and has recently exhibited in New York, Miami and London.

Brian Korteling has managed a graphic design company and is a designer, curator and award-winning visual artist. He has organised a range of exhibitions in the region over the past eight years.

Story by: Kate Royall [email protected]