I was pretty excited to do this post as this was my first ever visit to the London Art Fair.  As a more classic painter, I have always been focused on the London Galleries for inspiration and with the London Art Fair I really didn’t know what to expect.  How-ever, I must admit, I was blown away with the diversity and range of artwork on show.  From Walter Sickert and Salvador Dali to Grayson Perry and Banksy.  There really was something for all tastes.  It seemed that every style of art possible was on show.

After visiting, I would say this is a  great place to head to, if you are looking for art for your home.  With such a broad selection of work, it’s easy to decide – what you like, what you hate and also what you would really love to have in the house.  Even if the price tag is a bit over budget  – just seeing all the different options will help you decide on your own style.  It really opens your eyes to new possibilities when you see what is out there in the art world.

In this post I have attempted to make it easy to read by just showing a snap shot of Styles and Artists that grabbed my attention.  I have divided it into five sections –  Prints, Laser cut Paper, Sculpture, Painting and Textiles.  So feel free to scan to a section that interests you.

At the show photographic prints and collages seem to be one of the most frequent mediums for work.  With the exception of these stunning light boxes,  the Cynthia Corbett Gallery featured mostly  C- Type photographic prints.

Deborah Azzopardi

I found these pop art style light boxes by Deborah Azzopardi  really striking.

Fabriano Parisi

I found these colourful lively photographic collages by Fabriano Parisi were fascinating to explore. You can get lost in their fantasy – trying to make sense of familiar landmarks.

Isabelle Van Zeijl 

This beautiful collection is by Isabelle Van Zeijl  – c print on Diamond with a perspex face.

Nicolas Feldmeyer

At Encounter Contemporary I loved the simple black and white surreal landscapes of Nicolas Feldmeyer.  Which are resin coated silver gelatine prints that invite you to step through to another world.

Sandra Kantane | Santen Tuori

Digital photography has opened up a new world of imagery crossing the borders between pure photography and art.  Photography is enhanced and manipulated to create atmospheric surreal images. Or to an extent, are combined with graphics to create a digital artwork.  I was drawn to these beautiful prints in the Purdy Hicks Gallery by Sandra Kantane and Santen Tuori.

Hyojin Park 

On the Skipwiths stand I was fascinated by the work of Hyojin Park.  Melting flowers in bright vivid colours on his Grace pigment print and a  bizarre figurine in Bronze crowned with roses dripping in electric blue paint.

Alexander James Hamilton 

Prints that would timelessly grace most walls could be found in the Alexander James Hamilton collection at Dellasposa .  This butterfly print is chromogenic printed on aluminium. His watery flower prints are actually photographed underwater to create the abstracted designs.

Gavin Mitchel 

There is something I find quite intriguing about these Japanese women by Gavin Mitchel at the Turner Barnes Gallery.  The subtle colouring of vintage style photography combining Oriental beauty with American culture.  I loved the splashes of red on the sepia print, against a background of Gold leaf on the aptly named ‘Playboy Playgirls’.

Gillian Hyland | Freddy Fabris 

As with Contemporary oil painting we frequently see paint imitating photography in a photo-realist style. We also have photography imitating painting. The lines become blurred between the two.  Freddy Fabris pays homage to the works of classic painters such as Rembrandt and Da Vinci.  He has set the scene here on his image of ‘The Last Supper’.

Chris Levine  |  BANKSY

There were surprisingly not many celebrity portraits on show – but it was good to see a familiar face – and I do love this beautiful print of the Queen. ‘The Lightness of being’ is silk screen print with Swarovski Crystals by Chris Levine.

From famous faces to infamous artists I was surprised to see Banksy’s work on show at Gormleys Gallery.  ‘Choose your Weapon’ was on sale at £54,000 for a limited edition print – I think I’ll have two please.

Liane Lang 

The last of my print selection is a delicate renaissance style image by Liane Lang at the James Freeman Gallery.  The surreal image is given an ethereal air by being printed on to marble.

Kristijana Williams | Rebecca Coles

Paper may the simplest form of material – but I love to see the clever ways that artists can make it into something special.  At Tag Fine Arts Kristjana Williams had created some beautiful hand cut paper collages.  She creates three dimensional images and dioramas.  Rebecca Coles uses stamps and recycled paper for her  for her hand cut butterfly silhouettes.

One of the great attractions for me at this years show – was all the Sculpture.  From lampshaded mannequins to sublime bronzes, this show did not disappoint.

Cathy Lewis  |  Russell West  | Mellisa Kierana

Cathy Lewis’s unusual creations are called ‘Pomp and Bric-a -Brac’ and are made from Jemonite and found objects.  Russell West has calls his creation – a Self Portrait – Fill your boots – made from Artist’s boots and oil.  In a totally different Mellisa Kierana has created these porcelain sculptures Peter and Bartholomew.

Cesar Orrico 

Galerie Calderone were showing the work of Cesar Orrico.  Beautiful sculptures in Bronze and Silver.

Chris Antemann | Zemmer Peled  |  Tessa Farmer 

Cynthia Corbett had a stand for the Young Masters prize – featured below are  ‘Secluded Kiss’ by Chris Attemann and ‘Flowered Lions’ by Zemer Peled.  Another cabinet of curiosities piece that caught my eye was ‘The Feast’ by  Tessa Farmer at the Boo Lee Gallery.

Katherine Morling  | Elliot Walker

The following two  artists I admired for the striking simplicity of their designs.  Katherine Morling at London & Rye Gallery moulds porcelain in to pure white forms.  She uses black stain to create drawn outlines to make three dimensional graphic images.

I was also struck by the beauty of this glass by Elliot Walker.  The zesty yellow of the lemons against the vivid blue textured forms was quite a work of art.

I always look forward to seeing the paintings at any Art Fair and the most obvious were the large canvases that you just couldn’t miss.

John Bellamy RA, CBE 

Pour quoi II, exhibited by Castle House Gallery,  is described as one of the most important works by a British artist of the later half of the 20th century.  Produced in 1967, it followed a visit to Buchenwald Concentration camp in Germany.

Gordon Harris 

The next Painter that caught my attention was this imaginative composition by Gordon Harris.  Again a large scale image.  It’s title of ‘Mind Games’ was quite apt as  I didn’t know really know what it was all about – but that did seem irrelevant to the appreciation of the painting.

Francoise De Felice 

‘Le Songe de la Princesse Hyacinthe’  by Francoise De Felice the largest paintings I saw at the show.  Split into panels, it covered a large wall of Gallerie Calderone.

Nathan Ford |

As my interest is in Portraiture I did find a couple of artists that I was happy to see.  Nathan Ford has always been a favourite of mine – I am always in awe of the way he manages to capture the mood and character with such a small amount of detail.  Venet Haus Galeries was also hosting another artist, Kristian Evju, with an eye for detailed work.  I loved the ‘Incriminations’ collection of portraits. Produced in  pencil on paper with liquid metal on aluminium/wood panels.

Gill Rocca

Of the smaller paintings, at JSB Fine Art I found some beautiful atmospheric jems by Gill Rocca.  At 30cm diameter they were painted in oil on Birch circular panels.

Danie Mellor

Shades of blue were the signature of work by Danie Mellor at JGM Gallery.  Although they looked like printed images – materials used in their creation were listed as:- wax, pastel, wash with oil pigment, watercolour, metallic ink and pencil on paper, mounted onto aluminium board.

And finally to some of the more unusual artists mediums.

Ian Berry

At the Catto Gallery all of Ian Berrry’s work is produced from recycled denim jeans.  He creates tonal, blue, slightly 3 dimensional artwork images.

Marie Ange Daude

At Quantum Contemporary art Marie Ange Daude cleverly works with feathers to achieve her portraits.

.. and finally

If you visited the show – I would love to know what you thought and which Artists stood out for you.  If you didn’t make it I hope you have enjoyed seeing a glimpse of what was on show.  Let me know which Artist’s work  you would love to have in your home.

If you enjoyed reading this – here are some other posts that you may be interest in …