Supporting artists as they set down the roots of their careers, Sunday Art Fair shows works from new and emerging galleries, as well as more established spaces who have dedicated themselves to fledgling artists. Smaller than Frieze but showing the work of some fantastic galleries from around the world, Sunday are well worth a visit.
This is an eclectic group booth, with star attractions Patrick Groth and Eric Sidner. Groth creates dark but witty works, that have a slight Shrigley-ness to them, if being rather more narrative that his works. Where Shrigley’s could be taken as one-liners, Groth’s are stories that are woven out throughout a body of work, some text based, others illustrative. Snider’s works are similarly playful, sculptures appearing as glistening, mystical sea life that aren’t quite of this world. A booth with magpie appeal.
Bright, uplifting and also a little mystical, David Risley’s booth is decked out in work by Charlie Roberts, a US-born artist who now resides in Oslo. Three pastel-hued paintings hang on an equally deliciously painted wall, covered in big swirls of pale blues, greens and oranges. Hanging loosely in front are a selection of small ceramics, painted in Yves Klein blue and similar pastels.
The brilliant Darja Bajagic — currently featured in Elephant’s Issue 24 — is takes the stage at Room East. The gallery have chosen some of the more overt works by the artist, with bloodied hands, painted clown faces and half-naked women cut and manipulated in Bajagic’s powerful collages. These play off against bold colour works from the likes of Steven Parrino.
Union Pacific are showing a mixed-media collection of work that references industrial materials via stark visuals. Visuals aren’t the only thing however, the booth is dominated by the smell of pine oil coming from the towering sculpture of Jan Kiefer, currently based in Switzerland. Mixed with video work, photography and installation this space has one of the most intriguing curations of the fair.
Sunday Art Fair runs all weekend, finishing Sunday 18 October at 6pm
