Seven Artists and Galleries to Check Out at Affordable Art Fair Sydney

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In 1999, Affordable Art Fair started in London with the aims of championing artistic talent and challenging the misconception that owning art was only for the uber-rich. Years later, the fair now takes place in ten cities around the world — and in 2022 it's coming to Sydney for the very first time with a four-day event at the Royal Randwick Racecourse from June 2–5, while also making a return to Melbourne from September 1–4.

At the Sydney show, there will be 35 galleries from Australia and beyond displaying the best they have to offer, with no artwork priced over $10,000. You can browse, buy and spend a day strolling among works by emerging and established living artists, offering guests the chance to invest in something they love.

Here are seven excellent galleries to check out at Affordable Art Fair Sydney.

Brendan Kelly, 'Once Upon a Midden', 2021, acrylic and graphite on board, 120x120cm, image courtesy Brenda Colahan Fine Art

BRENDA COLAHAN FINE ART

Headquartered in the lower North Shore enclave of Putney, Brenda Colahan Fine Art has been a Sydney leader in art valuation and advisory since the late 1990s. For Affordable Art Fair, the gallery is showcasing works from a diverse range of artists, from veteran abstract painter Margaret Builder to the beautiful abstract works of Pitjantjatjara artist Jorna Newberry and the textural, three-dimensional textile work of Denise Lithgow. Brenda Colahan herself remains the director of the company and her philosophy of art as a dynamic communication tool that should be accessible to all aligns perfectly with the ethos of the Affordable Art Fair.

Brianna La Rance, 'The Castle, Stanza 7', print on Canson Edition etching paper, 60x90cm, image courtesy Harvey Galleries, Spencer and Lloyd Harvey

HARVEY GALLERIES

Harvey Galleries has been a Northern Beaches cultural go-to for the better part of three decades. While in more recent times it's made a name for itself thanks to a dedicated Dr Seuss Gallery, there'll be no cat in the hat at the Affordable Art Fair – what you'll see instead is a taste of the dynamic and inventive styles that Harvey Galleries love to shine a light on. Already this year the gallery has hosted exhibitions on beachscapes, pop art and bush paintings, so in this varied and thought-provoking collection art shoppers should be able to unearth a piece they love.

Sketch Collective

SKETCH COLLECTIVE

Creativity has always been at the heart of boutique marketing studio Sketch Collective, founded in 2019 by Caroline Heslop. So much so that earlier this year the Surry Hills-based agency opened its very own gallery. The team is committed to supporting and promoting local art while also keeping prices relatively low, with every piece at Sketch under $5,000. Sketch also knows that we're not all art aficionados so the website features an 'In Situ' tool that creates a rendering to let you visualise any piece from the range in any room in your own home. Sketch may not be an established name in the art world just yet, but already its track record says it's one to keep an eye on.

Leonie McIntosh, 'KitKat', 2022, oil on canvas, 50x40cm, image courtesy The Toowoomba Gallery

THE TOOWOOMBA GALLERY

Formed by two friends with a love of interior design who met on an agricultural technology tour in Amsterdam (no, really), The Toowoomba Gallery will be making the trip south with a number of outstanding pieces for Affordable Art Fair. You can view the work of Leonie McIntosh, whose hyper-realistic oil paintings of Australian chocolate and lollies are somehow more appetising than the real thing. Or perhaps you'd like an Emily Day hanging on your wall — her loose brush technique builds stunning layers of detail that create immersive floral experiences. And those two are just the beginning of the impressively diverse Australian selection.

Tarisse King, 'Earth Cycles', 2022, 180x120cm, image courtesy Kate Owen Gallery

KATE OWEN GALLERY

Specialising in contemporary Aboriginal art, Kate Owen Gallery is based in Rozelle in Sydney's Inner West but also has its own studio in Alice Springs dedicated to sourcing the best pieces from the Central and Western deserts directly from artists. If you buy a Kate Owen Gallery piece, not only do you have something beautiful to display but you'll also have an artwork that is deeply connected to the rich culture and history of the Indigenous community.

Go Suga, 'Snake in the Grass', acrylic on canvas, 122x122cm, image courtesy Anala Art Advisory

ANALA ART ADVISORY

Anala Art Advisory's website states it has sold over 4,500 individual paintings which is pretty impressive. A service committed to curation, matching art with art appreciators and helping people start their collections, Anala Art Advisory firmly believes art is there to be enjoyed. Its roster of creators includes not just painters but also conceptual artists, sculptors and art historians, and the staff's keen eye matched with superb market knowledge means you'll get a great deal as well as a wonderful piece to own and treasure for many years.

Antionette Ferwerda

ANTOINETTE FERWERDA

Artist Antoinette Ferwerda lives in Melbourne but her work is influenced by her experiences travelling and living in Europe, Darwin and Papua New Guinea. A veteran of a previous Affordable Art Fair (New York's 2019 iteration), Ferwerda is renowned for her colourful style which combines geometric and abstract forms to make striking, large-format contemporary pieces. Inspired by shape, light and the best quality materials, Ferwerda also creates bespoke commissions for commercial ventures and private collectors, so it's something of a coup to access a selection of her pieces at this year's Affordable Art Fair.

Affordable Art Fair Sydney takes place at Royal Randwick Racecourse from June 2–5. For more info and to purchase tickets, head to the website.