CELEBRATING its fifth year, the north’s leading art buying event, Buy Art Fair, will return to Spinningfields in Manchester from 28 to 30 September 2012.
It has been rewarding to see the event create a sustainable northern art market in a city which boasts such a dynamic arts and cultural scene
More than 60 galleries will be taking part with the work of 500 artists available to buy with prices starting at £50.
Visitors to Buy Art Fair 2011Buy Art Fair provides a relaxed setting for art enthusiasts to see and buy the latest affordable, original art by new and established artists.
The event now attracts over 5,000 people each year from across the north of England, ranging from first time buyers to collectors and curators.
Organisers of this year’s Buy Art Fair have announced a host of top UK galleries including an impressive line-up of North West galleries such as the Wendy Levy Gallery from Didsbury, Howarth Gallery in Burnley, Manchester’s Comme Ca Art and the Manchester Craft & Design Centre and also Cloud Gallery, Vermilion and Cheshire Art Agencies from Cheshire.
The Contemporary Six gallery, based in Manchester’s Royal Exchange, will be showcasing works by Horace Panter, the bassist with The Specials, whose work is unified by iconography with all his paintings paying homage to different forms of iconographic writing.
Bleach Box gallery: Bobs Root Beer, Fallon, Utah, 2003 by Richard Heaps
Also exhibiting with The Contemporary Six, for a second year, is Whaley Bridge artist Rob Wilson who has had a remarkable rise to success with a recent commission for Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini, under his belt.
Manchester artists Jessica Owen, David Goodwin and Moira Walton, who have formed the collective Owen Goodwin Walton, will also be exhibiting at this year’s Buy Art Fair.
Jessica has produced many commissions throughout her career including an impression of Big Sur in California for Scottish actor John Hannah. She was also asked by Manchester City Council to create the award to be presented to the winning team at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup held at the Manchester Velodrome in February 2011.
ArtRepublic gallery: Second Marriage by Pure Evil
Textile artist and photographer, Moira Walton, produces work with a fashion focus on paper, canvas, cotton and silk which have recently caught the eye of British fashion designer, Paul Smith.
Speaking about Buy Art Fair, managing director Thom Hetherington, commented: “During the past five years, the fair has sold work by a range of artists including Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Rolf Harris and Vic Reeves.
“We are passionate about art and making a way of purchasing original and affordable work possible. It has been rewarding to see the event create a sustainable northern art market in a city which boasts such a dynamic arts and cultural scene.”
The Contemporary Six gallery: The Corner House by Rob Wilson
As well as presenting an inspiring collection of art, visitors to Buy Art Fair will also be able to attend a series of informative talks by prominent figures from the art world who will be giving the expert tips and advice on buying and collecting original art.
Sponsors this year include Manchester’s Spinningfields and The Avenue, JMW Solicitors, Clarion PLC, Hetherington Newman and Living Ventures, owners of Australasia, The Alchemist and The Oasthouse. The fair also receives support from Manchester City Council in the run up to the weekend-long showcase of affordable, original art.
Buy Art Fair will be housed in a large marquee situated in the centre of Hardman Square, Spinningfields.
For further information and to register for free tickets, visit buyartfair.co.uk, follow @buyartfair on Twitter and ‘like’ over at facebook.com/BAFManchester. Buy Art Fair images can also be viewed at flickr.com/exhibition_photos and pinterest.com/buyartfair