What’s On | Amsterdam
68 GALLERIES FROM 14 COUNTRIES
At this year’s 19th edition of Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam, 68 Dutch and international galleries will present 1000s of contemporary artworks from more than 400 established and emerging artists spanning a wide range of media including paintings, screen prints, photographs, sculptures, textiles, ceramics, and more.
Among them, we’re thrilled to introduce eight galleries who are exhibiting for the very first time at the fair.
NATURE AND CONNECTION
This year’s theme, Nature and Connection, invites you to pause and reflect on the relationship between humans and the natural world. As environmental concerns grow and our lives become increasingly digital and fast-paced, artists are turning to nature as inspiration, subject and even as material to work with, highlighting its beauty, fragility, and the urgent need to reconnect.
The theme comes to life through a range of projects, including live painting by our campaign artist Koz Dos, an interactive mural, a curated display featuring works from participating galleries, and the Discover Programme showcasing three invited artists based in The Netherlands: Tarja Laine, Anne ten Donkelaar, and Ben Rikken. Find the details of each project below.
CAMPAIGN ARTIST – KOZ DOS
Koz Dos from Caracas, Venezuela, and now based in Italy, is known for his striking murals that explore the confrontation between humans and animals.
As this year’s campaign artist, his featured painting, When the Levee Breaks, draws inspiration from the Led Zeppelin song of the same name, using it as a metaphor for nature’s raw power and humanity’s vulnerability. Blending geometric forms with organic motifs and human figures, Koz Dos reflects on how natural disasters reveal the consequences of our disconnection from the environment. His work encourages viewers to adapt, reflect, and move toward a more compassionate coexistence with the natural world. You can meet the artist and see him paint live during the fair this October.
Watch the below videos to learn more about the artist and this year’s campaign artwork.
DISCOVER PROGRAMME
For the Discover Programme we have invited three Netherlands-based artists whose work resonates with this year’s theme to present their work at the fair.
Anne ten Donkelaar creates poetic compositions where nature, fragility, and imagination come together. Collecting butterflies, flowers, and twigs, she builds layered, floating collages that transform weeds into poetry and imperfections into new possibilities.
Ben Rikken paints landscapes on location, from the Reitdiep near Garnwerd to various regions across Europe. His expressive brushwork and warm, bold palette capture shifting light, colour, and atmosphere, reflecting not just the land itself but how it reveals itself through mood and perception.
Tarja Laine draws inspiration from the act of paying close attention to detail, using careful observation to reveal the invisible qualities of the visual world. Her paintings, often situated between figuration and abstraction, respond to organic forms through colour and line.
Interactive Studio
Draw your own growing plant or decorate a plant pot, and watch the mural bloom with creativity. This joyful, collaborative mural comes to life as visitors add their own colours and designs during the fair.
EMERGING ARTISTS PRESENTED BY AVROTROS
Culture connects us. The diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of young creatives play a pivotal role in this connection. AVROTROS is dedicated to championing these talented individuals in their quest to promote cultural diversity, with the ultimate goal to ensure that a broader range of voices and stories are shared.
The exhibition brings together works by four female Dutch artists: Tosja van Lieshout, Eline Boerma, Tirza Mafi and Renske de Jong.
TALKS – Buying art with confidence: Tips, insights and inspiration
Join an insightful talk by Woes van Haaften, aimed at making art collecting both accessible and inspiring In just 20 minutes, you’ll learn how to find your taste in art, talk about art and buy art with confidence, understand key concepts like media, editions, and pricing, and discover how living with art can enrich your life. Whether you’re new to collecting or already passionate, you’ll leave feeling informed, motivated, and ready to explore the fair and maybe even find an artwork that speaks to you. The talks will be held in Dutch unless there are English speakers in the group.
Woes van Haaften, founder of Post Modern Collection, is a dynamic force in the creative sector working across consultancy, art direction, and curatorship. His work is driven by a deep curiosity about identity, community, and democratization of creative.
Talks schedule
Wednesday 8 October: /
Thursday 9 October: 16h & 19h
Friday 10 October: 15h & 19h
Saturday 11 October: 13h & 16h
Sunday 12 October: 11h & 15h
ASK THE ART ADVISOR
We are excited to offer a unique and complimentary ‘Art Advice’ service, available throughout all five days of the fair.
Feel free to stop by during your visit to receive tips on navigating the fair, asking the right questions to gallerists and more. Our team will also provide guidance on selecting the perfect artwork for specific spaces and share key considerations when purchasing art. This service is designed to enhance the fair visit, offering valuable advice for both first-time buyers and seasoned art collectors.
ART UNDER €750
To celebrate Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary, and to encourage new collectors to take the step of acquiring an artwork, we’re presenting an ‘Art Under €750’ wall featuring a selection of artworks from our 8 new galleries.
Remi (Némo) Moné, GOUROU, Mixed media, 67x36x7cm, €400, 60 Cent Gallery
Marc van der Zwet, Vies mussen op rand blauw, oil on panel, 24,4×11,7cm, €500, Galerie Mi
Sandra Keutgens, Untitled, oil on canvas, , 50x40cm, €700, Fragile Concept
DISCOVER A NEW TAKE ON TAWNY WITH DOW’S
Craft takes time. Vision shapes tradition. For more than two centuries, Dow’s has been dedicated to the art of patience and precision, creating Ports of remarkable character and refined elegance. At this year’s fair, they invite you to experience a new take on Tawny with exclusive tastings of their 10 & 20 Year Old Tawny Ports – expressions that embody the richness of heritage and the spirit of discovery.
But Dow’s has always looked beyond the glass. They proudly launch the global Dow’s Black & White Photography Competition. A call to capture timeless moments of craft and tradition, where artistry and vision come together. From rare Vintage Ports to iconic Leica cameras, the rewards celebrate mastery in every form.
CATAWIKI x AFFORDABLE ART FAIR AMSTERDAM
From 1 to 13 October, Catawiki and Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam will present a special online auction featuring over 100 works by Dutch and international artists. The selection is curated by Fair Director Blythe Bolton and highlights some of today’s most promising talents.
Highlights include the bold expressionist works of Spanish artist Alfonso Sánchez and the distinctive paintings by French painter and graffiti artist SKEPA.
FOOD & DRINKS
Look for one of our bars, take a break and reflect on the artworks that caught your eye with a refreshing Lowlander beer brewed with herbs, spices and fruit, a glass of Dow’s Fine White Port & Tonic, or a cappuccino with ROA oat milk in hand. Also, enjoy delicious snack and food at our Discovery Bar or in the Lowlander Botanical Bar & Restaurant.
WRAPPING STATION
At the fair you can take advantage of the free wrapping and packing service provided by our partner Wall to Wall Art Solutions. The wrapping station will be open throughout the fair and wrapping is available for all artworks purchased at the fair.
Alternatively, you can also opt for sustainable, reusable packing provided by Biyomap at a cost.
Can’t take your artwork home straight away? No worries, Wall to Wall Art Solutions provides a delivery service at a cost.
