Battersea Autumn 2023: Abstract Route Guide

Abstract art is having a real moment! It’s one of the best-selling styles of contemporary art on the market. Born in the early 20th century, abstract art can be defined as non-figurative representation. It emphasises shapes, colours, forms, and gestural marks to convey emotions and concepts. In the contemporary art landscape, there’s a huge diversity and variety of abstract art – which you’ll see on show at the fair. From painting and mixed-media, to sculpture and collage, abstract expression is limitless!

Read on for a roundup of some of our favourite abstract pieces on display at Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Autumn from 19 – 22 October. Plus, if you’re keen to learn more about Abstract Art, join us for a talk on ‘Defining the Abstract’ on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 October. Find out more here.

Right, off we go!

1. Matt Dosa, campaign and installation artist

Our abstract tour starts with the work of Matt Dosa, our campaign artist for Battersea Autumn. You can’t miss his vibrant rainbow abstract works, taking over our fair entrance with his new installation, Assemble. Matt’s artworks are playful, full of colour and energy, as he seeks to echo the shapes and colours of his London hometown. He says: ‘To love the city you must find beauty in the chaos’. Matt is a renowned mural artist whose work can be seen across London – he’s been commissioned by the likes of the Mayor of London, Universal Music and the NHS. Matt says: ‘There are no wrongs or rights. I think abstract art is beautiful because of the lack of rules – there’s no good or bad, it’s just its own thing.’

2. Special Exhibitions and Displays

Before heading in to the gallery stands, let’s go upstairs to see Abstract Contemplations, a special exhibition that celebrates the rich and diverse creativity of African Diaspora artists through the lens of abstraction, curated by Lisa Anderson and Brian Maina of Black British Art. This thought-provoking showcase brings together an array of artistic voices, transcending geographical boundaries and exploring the myriad experiences of the African Diaspora, in celebration of Black History Month.

Now it’s on to the Abstract display in the parkside tunnel, with works by Boo Compton, Daniel Engelberg, Paul Jackson, and Shumaiya Khan. Boo Compton’s piece, ‘Afterglow’ (pictured below) is a sumptuous mixed media work on canvas, that plays with depth of colour and texture. The word afterglow is defined as ‘the light or radiance remaining in the sky after the sun has set’ which you can certainly see in the warm pastel orange colour palette Boo uses.

Paul Jackson, ‘Pacific Coast Highway – Big Sur’, Acrylic on canvas, £2,900, Pencil Tree Gallery

Boo Compton, ‘Afterglow’, Boo Compton, Mixed Media on Canvas, £1,700, Gina Cross Projects

3. Gina Cross Projects, Stand E4

Lovers of abstract will be spoiled for choice at Gina Cross Projects, stand E4. Gallerist and artist Gina Cross will be bringing a brand-new collection of her digital collages, inspired by her time in Italy. Gina creates these colourful collages by photographing metal, walls, angles, and light. She often produces work on brushed aluminium, which reflects elements of her original photographs such as the metal and light. Also not to be missed is the work of Carrie Jean Goldsmith, whose sumptuous gestural paintings feel luxurious and inviting.

4. Spence Gallery, Stand D7

Laurie Skantzos, Portal, Neon Pink New Bamboo, £575, wall sculpture, Spence Gallery

Now head down to Spence Gallery at stand D7! Here, you’ll find work by Laurie Skantzos who has recently launched a new series of abstract wall sculptures that borrow shapes and forms from her two-dimensional painting. In this series she experiments with colour combinations, isolating colour and form to create objects that are both whimsical and serene. The solidarity of the wood and the simplicity of the colours feel mesmerising and powerful; this one is aptly named ‘Portal’. And, at just £575 it’s going to be snapped up!

5. ArtDog London, Stand I5

Just across the aisle is ArtDog London, presenting a brand new abstract artist to the fair: Sally Burch. Sally transforms observations of the North essex landscape where she lives into her own abstract language constructed of geometric structures, mark-making and patterns, often working on wood panels to create beautiful layered pieces. Sally is inspired by colour theorist, Johannes Itten and the ideas of the Bauhaus movement – whose founder once said; ‘Colourful is my favourite colour’. You can certainly see this influence in her work.

6. Lucinda Dalton Gallery, Stand L2

Now let’s head to Lucinda Dalton Gallery, L2 to see Adam Taylor’s abstract compositions, which are influenced by the coastal landscape of his surroundings in rural West Wales. He seeks to capture the mood of the land through extracting the basic forms into pleasing shapes and colour. Adam primarily works with oils but will employ enamel paint and various textures at the start of the painting process to create a raw and layered final piece. There is something very calming whilst also unsettling about his works.

7. The Tolman Collection, Stand G3

Now for the last two galleries which are in the middle of the fair by the Central Bar, (where we recommend stopping off for a refreshment!) At stand G3 is The Tolman Collection, where you’ll
find Masahiko Tsubota’s beautiful abstract works on paper. Masahiko has experimented with line
and mark making to create amazing colour fields, stripes, and squares. He has exhibited worldwide
since the early 1970s, in both group and solo exhibits in Asia, Europe, and America, and his work is in
many public and private collections across the world. Tsubota’s work delves into the infinite
possibilities of abstraction, removing everything that is not necessary, pushing formalist matters to
their ultimate and beautiful boundaries.

8. Gallery Ritter, Stand G4

And last but not least, just nextdoor is Gallery Ritter – who are exhibiting for the very first time at Affordable Art Fair Battersea. You’ll find a range of exciting and innovative sculptural pieces at this stand, including the abstract works of Daniel Engelberg. Daniel is inspired by architectural forms, and creates an amazing depth and a sense of optical illusion in his work. He began his studies in traditional wood sculpting, before moving on to create huge instillations in indoor spaces made with construction materials.

And that concludes our Abstract Route Guide – we hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the
a variety of abstract works on show at Battersea Autumn. If you’d like to delve deeper, head to our afternoon talk Defining the Abstract on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 October at 3pm!