By Xinlin Wang

The autumn edition of Affordable Art Fair returns to Battersea Park, London, bringing together 116 contemporary galleries from over 20 countries. One of our favourite art fairs, it continues to make a compelling case for first-time art collectors with its commitment to transparency and accessible pricing. Since its launch in 1999, the fair has championed the idea of democratising the art world and making art accessible to all. Judging by its impressive visitor turnout year after year, the appeal is clear.

Upon entering the fair, we are greeted by House of Cards, a 5.5-metre-high installation by Programme Artist Charles Inge, represented by Pigment Gallery. Made up of a towering stack of cards, the installation is accompanied by a display of Inge’s works from his Wanderer series, which examines the state of the world through the juxtaposition of small figures against enormous landscapes. It is an intriguing introduction to a fair that invites us to look a little closer.

Among the other programmes are the annual Graduates Exhibition and a display celebrating Black History Month, both of which champion artists and help bring their work to a wider audience. There are also hands-on activities for younger visitors, while Art After Dark offers live DJs, complimentary drinks and creative workshops for those who prefer their art with a little more atmosphere.

From painting and ceramics to photography and sculpture, there is something to catch everyone’s eye. What we love about Affordable Art Fair is how it makes collecting art feel less intimidating and more like an adventure. There are galleries to discover, conversations to be had and, if we are lucky, that one special piece we simply cannot stop thinking about.

Some of our favourite highlights from the fair:

ArtBlue Studio (Singapore)

ArtBlue Studio is a leading Singapore gallery for contemporary Vietnamese art, and we can see why. Guided by the belief that art transcends cultural boundaries, the gallery brings together a distinctive selection of works by Vietnamese artists.

Walking into the space, we are greeted by Pham Ngoc Hoang’s luminous portraits from his new Innocent series, alongside Nguyen Manh Hung’s idiosyncratic landscapes inspired by the forests of his childhood. There are also works by River Luong (featured image), who is making his Battersea debut with ArtBlue Studio, and portraits by Phuong Quoc Tri, among others.

What particularly caught our attention is the breadth of work on display. From portraits to landscapes, each artist brings a different perspective, making this a gallery well worth lingering over.

K:art Studio (UK)

Founded in 2022, K:art Studio is an artist-led organisation dedicated to practice-based research and production, with a fascinating roster of artists. Among those featured at this year’s Affordable Art Fair are Yixin Liang, Zaijin Lin, Li Xia, Jiawei Yan and Xiao Tingting.

We are particularly drawn to Ang Wu’s intimate paintings, which recall the oil paintings of the Old Masters. Yet there is more beneath the surface. By exploring the tension between the visible and the unseen, Wu captures the contradictions of a person’s inner life, where intimacy and uneasiness exist side by side. The result is a body of work that feels quietly unsettling, inviting us to look beyond what is immediately apparent.

GALLERY G-77 (Japan)

We have admired Japanese artist Sayumi Kudo’s work for some time, so seeing her paintings in person is a particular treat. Inspired by the deep sea, her meticulous ink lines and black washes, punctuated by blue highlights, lend her portrayals of women a timeless, almost mythic quality.

Also on our radar are Hiroko Shiina and Toyohiko Nishijima, two artists whose work we are keen to explore further.

Lucinda Dalton Gallery (UK)

Lucinda Dalton Gallery champions emerging and established artists, with founder Lucinda Dalton personally selecting the talents featured by the gallery.

The first works to catch our eye are the enormous folded silk pieces by Sydney-based textile and design duo Karen Martin and Papa Martin. There is something almost subterranean about these works, in the way the artists bring together material and technique to create forms that immediately command attention.

We are also drawn to Hilde Trip’s Make a Wish. Made with preserved dandelions and dried sea grass, the work takes the form of a majestic flowerscape. Its delicate natural materials lend it a curious duality: both transient and transcendent, it captures the beauty of something that might otherwise disappear before we have had the chance to appreciate it.

Margo in Margate (UK)

We love Margo Mc Daid’s joyful portraits of women. Full of vintage charm and playful simplicity, they are the kind of works that catch your eye and invite you to return for another look.

According to the artist’s website, Mc Daid paints daily, and her 2024 solo exhibition at Brighton’s Helm Gallery sold out within 24 hours. It is easy to see the appeal. There is something wonderfully eccentric about her subjects and their fashion sensibilities. Patterns and blocks of colour give each woman her own character and personality, making every portrait feel like a glimpse into a world of its own.

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