British Art Fair

British Art Fair
View of the Saatchi Gallery, location of the art fair
The Saatchi Gallery in London, location of the British Art Fair since 2018.
GenreArt fair; focuses on modern British and contemporary art
Date(s)Normally September
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s)Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea, London, England
Coordinates51°29′26″N 0°09′32″W / 51.4906°N 0.1589°W / 51.4906; -0.1589
Years active1988 – ongoing
Most recent28 September – 1 October 2023
Next event26–29 September 2024
Websitewww.britishartfair.co.uk

British Art Fair is a London-based art fair presenting modern, post-war and contemporary British art.[1]

The fair was founded by Gay Hutson in 1988, and most of the major names in British art in the 20th and 21st centuries have been represented. Much of the work is privately sourced and fresh to the market, with dealers keeping work back for the fair.[2]

The Royal College of Art, location of the 20/21 British Art Fair until 2015.

A number of galleries exhibit at the fair each year.[3][4] In the past, the fair was held at the Royal College of Art in South Kensington, west London, in September each year.[5] In 2012, the fair celebrated its 25th anniversary.[6] Due to a loss of availability of the venue, it was cancelled in 2016, but in June 2017 it was held at the Mall Galleries in St James's, central London.[7]

In 2018, the art fair moved to Saatchi Gallery at the Duke of York's HQ, which has since become the fair's new home.[8]

In 2022, British Art Fair took place under the Ramsay Fairs umbrella for the first time. Founded by Will Ramsay, Ramsay Fairs is one of the biggest art fair organisers globally, with a portfolio of art fairs that includes Affordable Art Fair, VOLTA and British Art Fair.[9]

  1. ^ Gleadell, Colin (12 September 2011). "20/21 British Art Fair: No holding back Modern Britain". The Daily Telegraph.
  2. ^ "British art's showcase changes hands". artsindustry.co.uk. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  3. ^ "England & Co, Stand 23, 20/21 British Art Fair, 11–16 September 2007, The Royal College of Art, London SW7". UK: England & Co. Gallery. 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  4. ^ "20/21 British Art Fair, 2015". UK: Alan Wheatley Art. 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  5. ^ "20/21 British Art Fair". UK: Royal College of Art. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  6. ^ "25th Anniversary". UK: 20/21 British Art Fair. 2012. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  7. ^ Brady, Anna (30 March 2016). "20/21 British Art Fair to be relaunched at new venue in June 2017". Antiques Trade Gazette.
  8. ^ Gleadell, Colin. "History". UK: British Art Fair. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  9. ^ "British art's showcase changes hands". artsindustry.co.uk. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2024.