Luxury Defined takes a look at some of the most exciting art fairs for 2020, including the latest one to make its debut in London
While Frieze and Art Basel will always be worth traveling for, seeking out alternative art fairs across the world can lead to discovering the work of vibrant new and lesser-known arts communities, not to mention the chance to invest in pieces by up-and-coming artists.
1. Zonamaco, Mexico City, Mexico, February 5–9, 2020
Each year, Mexico City sees the return of the city’s three major art fairs: Zonamaco, Material Art Fair, and Salon Acme. Zonamaco is considered one of the most important art fairs in Latin America with the 2020 edition bringing together exhibitors from 26 countries. For the first time ever, the event will bring four Zonamaco fairs under one roof—contemporary art, design, photography, and antiques. Together, these will comprise Zonamaco Art Week. Founder of Zonamaco, Zélika García, says: “We consider it a great move to gather world-renowned exhibitors of different disciplines in one place. This will also be the first time we feature a new section created to foster mid-career galleries.”
zsonamaco.com
2. Dallas Art Fair, Dallas, Texas, United States, April 16–19, 2020
Held at the Fashion Industry Gallery of Dallas’s downtown arts district, Dallas Art Fair showcases national and international art, while also promoting the city’s growing arts community. For the 2020 edition, the fair is curating a new section showcasing the work of North Texas artists. “This will be a platform for these artists to gain exposure to a larger audience,” says the art fair director, Kelly Cornell, before describing how the event works closely with the region’s galleries year-round. The 2020 fair will also welcome exhibitors such as Perrotin, Marlborough, James Cohan Gallery, and Karma.
dallasartfair.com
3. Eye of the Collector, London, United Kingdom, May 13–16, 2020
The latest fair to get the art world talking, Eye of the Collector, is set to make its debut in London within the architecturally impressive mansion, Two Temple Place. Built in 1895 for newspaper publisher and philanthropist William Waldorf Astor, it seems fitting that this neo-Gothic landmark is now dedicated to culture and philanthropy. Unlike any other art fair the capital has seen, Eye of the Collector plans to showcase artwork as it might be presented in a collector’s home, showing visitors how they can display the artwork themselves. “Today’s collectors are looking for new ways of experiencing and acquiring art,” the founder of Eye of the Collector, Nazy Vassegh, explains. Visitors can expect to see artworks ranging from ancient to contemporary.
eyeofthecollector.com
4. Arco Lisboa International Contemporary Art Fair, Lisbon, Portugal, May 14–17, 2020
“Arco Lisboa is a tool for making Portuguese artists more visible to international institutions and collectors,” explains Arco Lisboa director Maribel López. “The galleries’ artistic showcase, alongside the city’s cultural offering, creates a flurry of interest.” Considered a major international hub for Portuguese contemporary art, Arco Lisboa is an artistic meeting place in Lisbon as well as being part of a new dynamic in which Portuguese artists are finding more opportunities to showcase their work abroad. At the same time, more and more international artists are coming to Lisbon to live and work. “The city’s dynamic activity contributes to Arco Lisboa’s success, as every corner of Lisbon celebrates the fair,” she says.
ifema.es/en/arco-lisboa
5. Photo Basel, Basel, Switzerland, June 16–21, 2020
Now in its sixth edition, this is Switzerland’s first and only art fair dedicated to photography. “Photo Basel is a regionally rooted art fair that puts galleries and their artists at its core,” says founding director Sven Eisenhut. “Art Basel is extremely well-known and international, yet the intimacy of our fair makes the way we welcome visitors very personal.” The core of this event’s team hail from Basel, making the organizers exceptionally well connected to the local art scene. “With our fingers on the pulse of the city’s cultural happenings, a focus for us is to engage with the local audience,” Eisenhut continues. “Our programming reflects this local push; next June we will present an exhibition by local artist Roger Humber who just turned 90.”
photo-basel.com
6. Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne, Australia, June 18–21, 2020
Moving this year to a new permanent venue, Melbourne Art Fair will present iconic and new works from over 50 of the region’s galleries. The fair director and CEO at Melbourne Art Foundation, Maree Di Pasquale, says, “Melbourne Art Fair stands out as a progressive forum for contemporary art. Although we are one of the most established fairs in the region, we place a focus on the next generation of collectors through the newly formed Young Collectors Program.” The fair also commissions new work to directly support artists—the Sri Lankan born, Sydney-based artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran has been announced as the recipient of the 2020 commission. Through these programs, the event’s organizers hope to shape the future of art in the region.
melbourneartfair.com.au
7. RMB Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg, South Africa, July 12–14, 2020
Visionaries is the theme for the 2020 RMB Turbine Art Fair. This topic is representative of the event’s philosophy. The art fair showcases emerging African art to provide a platform for young and under exposed artists, boost galleries in their early years and grow South Africa’s art market at a time of proliferation for the country’s art scene. The fair relays this message by ensuring exhibits are accessible, drawing in young people starting to learn about art as well as established collectors. To mark the beginning of a new decade, the fair is curating exhibits that look forward as well as back at the cultural and creative landscape of the country. New additions to the public programming include Woven—an exhibition of textile-based artwork from artists who represent this fair’s microcosm of South African society.
turbineartfair.co.za
8. Seattle Art Fair, Seattle, Washington, United States, July 23–26, 2020
Seattle is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. Seattle Art Fair is the leading contemporary art fair of this region. This one-of-its-kind event connects art buyers with the Pacific Northwest arts community through the exhibits of local, national, and international galleries, and public programming. “Seattle Art Fair reflects the sensibilities of the Pacific Northwest,” says the event manager of Seattle Art Fair, Kira Burge. “This is a region that’s renowned for its inventive spirit.” More than just a single-venue exhibit, the annual event showcases art through a series of cultural happenings and exhibitions from both private collections and museums across the city.
seattleartfair.com
