Meet the Benelux Team
Get to know the team behind our Benelux fairs; Amsterdam and Brussels. Hear about their favourite aspects of Affordable Art Fair life, as well as city suggestions for your exhibiting downtime!
Erin Peacock
Monday 19 June, 2023
Our Benelux team are gearing up for the 17th edition of Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam and the 15th edition of Affordable Art Fair Brussels. Both of our Benelux fairs take place in culturally-conscious, trend-led cities, where art plays a hugely important role in the resident’s lives.
Let’s introduce the faces in charge of bringing you must-see edition after must-see edition, as we hear all about their favourite memories and individual artistic tastes so you know what to expect at their upcoming fairs.
Time to meet the Benelux team!
Blythe Bolton, Fair Director
Blythe began her relationship with Affordable Art Fair all the way back in 2015 when she directed international sales for a gallery operating across Europe and US. Passionate about the wellbeing benefits that living with art has, she now directs our Amsterdam and Brussels fairs.
After her studies in Art History, she spent some time at Condé Nast in London, volunteering art therapy at a homeless charity in Edinburgh and teaching yoga in Amsterdam before embarking on her art fair journey.
What do you enjoy about Affordable Art Fair?
The transparency and warmth of communication at our events. You won’t find exhibitors absorbed by their laptops as is sadly so often the case at other fairs.
“Affordable Art Fairs are unanimously filled with art world professionals who care deeply about artists, ideas and the life-enhancing impact art can make in the homes of our visitors.”
Tell us about your most memorable moment at one of the past fairs.
It’s so hard to choose but there is a special one that goes back to my exhibitor days in London. There was a little boy who had recently had his 8th or 9th birthday and, after visiting the fair, he pushed his parents to bring him back again. He decided that Eugenia Loli’s ‘Not Saturn’ collage meant more to him than having the latest scooter model and bought it with his birthday money. I love the idea that he’ll tell the story of becoming an art collector as a kid, to his kids one day.
Could you describe an unforgettable artwork that you spotted at one of the past fairs?
I still find myself thinking about this unusual painting of Liu Yan’s presented by Galerie Kunstbroeders at our last Amsterdam fair. I have no idea why, and that mystery still intrigues me.
What are your favourite non-art places in Brussels and Amsterdam?
In Brussels, I love Parc Tenbosch for its ‘90s romantic comedy film set’ vibe and proximity to the unpretentious deliciousness of Garage à Manger. Goupil le Fol in the centre always inspires me with its zany, characterful atmosphere and I’m easily charmed by an invite to people-watch at Chez Richard in Sablon.
Back in Amsterdam, Zithoek in Noord has all the warmth of your favourite auntie’s home and excellent coffee. A Volo on Haarlemmerdijk is my place when I need a dose of the charm and delicious ‘dolce vita’ without the plane or the price tag. But really, my favourite place in Amsterdam is on my bicycle, going anywhere.
Annick Reibestein, Exhibitor Relationships Manager
Before Annick started at Affordable Art Fair, she worked as an Online Marketeer at a big Dutch retail organisation, as well as managing her own photography company.
Her current role is Exhibitor Relationships Manager for Affordable Art Fair Brussels and Amsterdam, where she has been supporting our amazing galleries on their fair participations since February 2019.
Describe your most memorable moment at one of the past fairs.
One of the most memorable moments was the Amsterdam fair in 2019. It was my first fair and I was nervous, but excited at the same time. In the end, seeing everything coming to life after all the intricate preparations gave me a truly euphoric feeling!
Could you please tell us about an unforgettable artwork that you spotted at one of our past fairs?
‘Out Red’ by Derrick Ofosu Boateng on Homecoming Gallery‘s stand directly drew me in with its bright colours and joyful spirit. I’m a huge photography fan and looking at this artwork makes me instantly happy, over and over again.
Do you have any tips for people visiting your hometown of Amsterdam?
The Spiegelkwartier is a must-do for culture lovers as it’s full of treasures from across the globe and centuries.
“For those in need of some nature, a bike-ride through Amsterdamse Bos is dreamy in the Summer.”
My top 3 restaurants in the city are Petit Caron, a cosy French bistro in De Pijp, De Kas at Park Frankendael where they farm their own ingredients and the magical tapas at Tasca Bellota in the Haarlemmerbuurt. That said, I love crossing the river to Amsterdam Noord where there seems to always be an innovative new restaurant opening or event happening.
Atena Abrahimia, Marketing Manager
Atena Abrahimia has a Masters in Culture Studies – Management of the Arts and Culture from Universidade Catolica Portuguesa in Lisbon, as well as a postgraduate degree in Curatorial Studies from KASK in Gent. In the past years, she has worked on several exhibitions, a performance festival in Brussels, written exhibition texts and artist interviews, as well as recently having launched an online art platform with a friend called Murmur.
Atena worked as Marketing Executive for Affordable Art Fair Brussels from winter 2019 until early spring 2020 before rejoining the team as Marketing Manager of Affordable Art Fair Brussels and Amsterdam in 2021.
What do you enjoy about Affordable Art Fair, and tell us about your most memorable moment at one of the past fairs?
I enjoy the fact that we have such a broad and diverse range of visitors. I’ve come across newborns visiting the fair with their parents, a 95-year-old lady visiting all by herself, Ambassadors, Olympic athletes, and even a parrot admiring the art from the shoulder of its owner.
As a Luxembourgish national, I was proud to welcome our prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, at the 2023 Brussels fair, and I was even more happy when he told me that he had found some artworks to take back to Luxembourg.
What is an unforgettable artwork that you spotted at one of our past fairs?
It’s hard to only pick one!
“I remember feeling amazed by Laura Schurink’s sculptures at Gallery Untitled’s stand during Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam in 2021.”
Laura creates her colourful sculptures by putting together found objects in order to create something totally new. Laura’s compositions are playful experiments to find new aesthetics with the perfect balance between colour, shape, material and texture.
What are your favourite non-art places in Brussels?
To unwind, I enjoy walks through the many small parks in Brussels. Parc du Viaduc, Parc d’Egmont and Abbaye de la Cambre are among my favourites. I also love going to Place Poelaert and taking in its extraordinary view over the city.
On Sundays, I like to stroll around the Marolles and Sablon area to check out the Jeu de balle flea market, have lunch at the Taiwan inspired, plant-based restaurant Liu Lin or the vegetarian cantine L’eau chaude.
For a beer, my favourite spot is Le Pantin at Flagey. I’ve been going there ever since I moved to Brussels 10 years ago.
Charlotte Grandury, Fair Coordinator
Before joining Affordable Art Fair as a Fair Coordinator this spring, Charlotte studied architecture for two years at ENSAPB in Paris and worked in hospitality in Australia and France. She is now completing her Bachelor’s in Media and Culture at the University of Amsterdam and freelances in photography.
What do you enjoy about Affordable Art Fair?
My first experience with Affordable Art Fair was supporting the production as a Fair Assistant in Amsterdam. It was incredible seeing the venue transform so fast from an empty space to a magical one full of art in just a couple of days always amazes me.
Another aspect that I really value, is that everyone at our fairs from the team to the exhibitors, works to create an atmosphere that is welcoming to everyone.
What is an unforgettable artwork that you spotted at one of our past fairs?
I love this painting by Paul Critchey, represented by Galerie Honingen, because it feels like you can always open a window to summer and relaxation. I have a passion for architecture and cinema and have developed a bit of a visual obsession with windows since watching Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock.
I also love the sea as it relaxes me. Looking at this painting makes me feel the summer breeze on my face and listen to the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks while being sun kissed, which is my idea of bliss. I also love the fact that you can close and open the artwork like a real window.
What are your favourite non-art places in Amsterdam?
I spend most of my time in the West and North parts of the city.
One of my favourite places in Amsterdam, which is also next to our Amsterdam fair venue, is the bar, restaurant and club Skatecafé. On a sunny day, I love strolling around Jordaan before going to Westerpark, which is always less crowded than Vondel. I enjoy chilling in the sun, playing cards and listening to music with my friends there.
Main image: Photos from Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam (left) and Affordable Art Fair Brussels (right).