John Daly-Peoples
Mike Hewson, Rock on Wheels
Auckland Art Fair
The Cloud
March 2 – 5
John Daly-Peoples
The Art Fair industry has seen a huge growth over the last few years and post Covid there has been a further resurgence. This has largely been part of a response by dealer galleries to the impact of the auction house / resale market. This has seen dealers and the auction houses in direct competition both for the art and for buyers.
Even in New Zealand the auction houses have bigger marketing budgets and networks along with quality art works on offer which means they are able to attract a select client group for a one or two night “exhibition” of major work accompanied by a well-produced catalogue with in depth articles worthy of a public gallery exhibition.
Dealer galleries in contrast mainly operate with a limited invitation list and also not much in the way of international connections. With an art fair the dealers are able to reach a wider audience by condsolidating their invitations lists along with wider media reach. They can also offer a novel experience, a limited “buy now” opportunity along with a full programme of events and a lively party scene
The Auckland Art Fair in on next month Thursday March 2–Sunday 5 March at The Cloud on Auckland’s Queens Wharf.
This year there will be forty exhibiting galleries representing more than 180 artists. While most of the galleries are from New Zealand there are several international galleries.
Benjamin Work, Tautahi,
Bergman Gallery which has locations in Rarotonga and Auckland will be showing Pasifika artists including Telly Tuita, Mahiriki Tasngaroa and Benjamin Work.
Redbase Foundation from Yogyakarta will be showing prominent Indonesian contemporary artists, including Lowpop, Agus Wijaya and He Wenjue.
Naarm Melbourne, is presenting Haydens Gallery, STATION and Savage while Michael Bugelli Gallery from Hobart will present a solo booth featuring New Zealand -born sculptor Mike Henson.
New Zealand Arts Review 