Affordable Art Fair Brisbane: The Full Program 2025

We’re delighted to announce that on the 8-11 May Affordable Art Fair Brisbane will open its doors to the art-loving public at the Brisbane Showgrounds Exhibition Building.

To get you in the mood for all the fun of the fair, here’s everything you can see and do at the newest edition of Affordable Art Fair.

ART COLLECTOR’S PARADISE

Discover 1,000s of artworks under one roof

Get ready to explore a diverse range of artwork across various styles and mediums. With 50 galleries from Queensland and beyond, you’ll have the opportunity to discover thousands of original paintings priced between AU$100 and AU$10,000. Have a blank wall at home to fill? Now is the chance to discover the joy of collecting art.

Budget-friendly buys

A highlight of visiting an Affordable Art Fair is searching through thousands of artworks on your hunt for the perfect piece. There is something for every taste, space and spend – and we make it easy for you to find a piece in your budget with our handy Under AU$1,000 and Under AU$500 highlights. Keep your eyes peeled for these as you walk around the fair!  

Free Art Wrapping

Can’t wait to take your artwork home? Take advantage of our complimentary wrapping services provided by Fantastic Framing throughout the duration of the fair.   

Discover: Young Talent  

Discover: Young Talent offers art lovers the opportunity to snap up the artwork of rising talents before they ascend into stardom. This year’s hand selected emerging artists are Anabelle Honeyman, Angelica Dimal, Lake Kelly, Laura Oittam, Toyah Robinson, Wendy Ma and Will Turner.

Spotlight on First Nations Art

Chloe Watego, Lauren Rogers, Nathan Rogers-Falk, Nikita Fitzpatrick-Newly, and Sue Mitchell take centre stage in this year’s Spotlight on First Nations Art, a must-visit for visitors seeking to add contemporary artworks to their collection. Experience live painting and weaving, set against the backdrop of hand-painted mural, Flourish: Stories of Meanjin, by Lauren Rogers. 

Access Arts

We are delighted to partner with Access Arts at the second edition of Affordable Art Fair Brisbane. As Queensland’s leading organisation for inclusive arts, Access Arts creates opportunities for artists with disability or disadvantage to thrive in the visual and performing arts. Through collaboration with artists and industry partners, they champion a more diverse and enriched arts sector.  Art lovers can expect to discover a wide array of painting, drawing, mixed-media, textile art, sculpture, mosaic, and photography to snap up at the fair this May.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Opening Night Celebrations

Opening Night ticket holders will be among the first to experience the fair, kicking off the celebrations in style. Enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbles from our partners Bird in Hand while taking in roving performances from Brisbane icon Rachel Burke. This event is perfect for passionate art enthusiasts and after-work crowds who love to blend art with socialising.

Thursday 8 May | 5pm
Opening Night Tickets: $45*

Breakfast with Home Beautiful’s Editor in Chief

Join Elle Lovelock, Home Beautiful’s Editor in Chief in an intimate group breakfast at Affordable Art Fair Brisbane at 9:00am on Friday the 9 May as she shares her tips and tricks to having art in your home. Spaces are limited for this exclusive event, so snap up your ticket now and don’t miss out.

Friday 9 May | 9am
Breakfast with the Editor Tickets: $28*

ARTISTS IN ACTION

Get closer to art with live painting from standout artists

Curious about the magic of art-making? Don’t miss the chance to witness it firsthand! While perusing the fair aisles, you’ll encounter multiple artists in action displaying a wide array of styles and techniques. Ten artists will be painting live throughout the fair giving you an exciting opportunity to see an artwork created in real-time.

Don’t worry – if you fall in love with their artworks you can head over to their gallery’s stand to purchase one for yourself.

Brad Turner
Brad Turner Creative
8 – 11 May | All Day

Brad is an Australian Indigenous artist from the Saltwater people of Bundjalung Country, a region spanning southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales. His artistic journey began at the family dining table, where he and his daughter explored their heritage through art. From these humble beginnings, his work has grown, leading to collaborations with some of Australia’s most respected names and brands.

Caitlin Lever
Stevens Street Gallery
8 – 11 May | All Day

Caitlin Lever, a teacher by day and an artist in every spare moment, grew up in Toowoomba, surrounded by beautiful gardens and nature. At 27, her journey as a graduate teacher took her to Rockhampton, where her art practice flourished. Expanding beyond the canvas, she began painting the walls of public amenities. By 2023, her work was displayed on the exterior walls of Central Queensland’s largest shopping center, marking a significant milestone in her creative journey.

Chloe Watego
Spotlight on First Nations Art
Saturday 10 May | 2pm – 5pm 
Sunday 11 May | 10am – 2pm

Chloe Watego is a Iman & South Sea Islander woman residing on Gubbi Gubbi Country with a passion for sharing and celebrating her culture through art. As a self-taught artist, Chloe uses painting for creative expression and to aid in healing as she continues to explore her family’s roots. Chloe’s artworks are a means to shine a light on her family’s enduring ties to the land while also illuminating the path forward for her children and future generations of her family. 

Jane Du Rand 
Salt Contemporary Art
8 – 11 May | All Day

South-African born, Ipswich-based Jane du Rand uses her art practice to document and better understand the world around her. Originally trained as an architect, du Rand’s practice also extends to large-scale ceramic and mosaic installations, with her intricate designs incorporated into the architecture of civic and private buildings around the world.

Lauren Rogers
Spotlight on First Nations Art
Friday 9 May | 10am – 1pm

Lauren Rogers is a First Nations artist with bloodlines to Ngarabul and the Torres Strait Islands,  based in Meanjin (Brisbane), whose work is deeply connected to Country, kinship, and cultural storytelling. With a background in visual arts and design, Lauren’s practice explores themes of environmental stewardship, identity, and the interwoven narratives of land, water, and people. 

Minhan Cho
Red Hill Gallery
Sunday 11 May | All Day

Minhan Cho, a landscape artist, uses painting as a tool to better understand the world around him. Influenced by late impressionist and post-impressionist masters, he explores light, form, and texture to capture the dynamic interplay of nature. His works aim to simplify the shapes of objects and translate light into energetic brushstrokes, creating an immersive experience for viewers.

Nathan Rogers-Falk
Spotlight on First Nations Art
Friday 9 May | 3pm – 8pm

Nathan Rogers-Falk is a proud Wiradjuri, Ngemba man, deeply rooted in his cultural heritage and based on Bundjalung Country. Nathan explores a diverse range of mediums, showcasing his creativity through painting, the intricate art of burning designs on kangaroo skins, and crafting traditional artefacts. As the owner of Wollumbin Dreaming, he actively contributes to promoting First Nations arts and culture within his local community.

Nick Olsen
Red Hill Gallery
Thursday 8 May | All Day
Friday 9 May | All Day
Saturday 10 May | All Day

We are proud to have local Brisbane artist Nick Olsen as our 2025 campaign artist. Known for his dreamy, nostalgic artworks, Nick draws inspiration from the inner urban areas of Brisbane and Sydney. He spends significant time observing his surroundings and translating them into paint. In 2011, Nick was honored with The Royal Overseas League Travelling Scholarship.

Nikita Fitzpatrick-Newly
Spotlight on First Nations Art
Saturday 10 May | 10am – 2pm 
Sunday 11 May | 2pm – 5pm

A proud Ngarabul and Torres Strait Islander woman, Sue is a Senior Artist and multidisciplinary creative working across weaving, painting, and sculpture. Through her art, she shares stories of culture, Country, and community, passing on knowledge and traditions through her practice. Sue is passionate about fostering connection and understanding as an educator and cultural storyteller, using her work to celebrate and preserve First Nations heritage. 

Phillip Edwards
Sarah Birtles Art + Advice
8 – 11 May | All Day

Having dedicated the past 30 years to his art practice, Phillip’s expressive large-scale paintings map out natural forms and take viewers on a visceral journey into the great Australian outdoors. As a 2018 finalist of the prestigious Wynne Prize, hosted by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Phillip was awarded the Trustees Watercolour Prize.

CHILDRENS ART STUDIO X TENYKA JAY

Did you know that while you’re exploring your creativity at the fair, majestic whales are making their great migration along Australia’s coastline? Every year, these gentle giants travel thousands of kilometres, just as our fairs arrive in Brisbane and Sydney! This year’s studio has been imagined by local artist and children’s author Tenyka Jay, and is supported by Brisbane City Council and Resene.
 
In the Childrens Art Studio X Tenyka Jay let your imagination swim free with:

🌊 A 7-metre hand painted mural of Australia’s ocean wildlife

🖍️ Bespoke colouring activities lovingly created by our local featured artist

🧜‍♀️ Free face painting transforming young dreamers into bioluminescent jellyfish or mythical mermaids

WATERCOLOUR WHALES
Our Chrildren’s Art Studio artist Tenyka Jay will be live creating a series of watercolour whale artworks, painted with artist-quality watercolour pigments on premium 300gsm watercolour paper. These bespoke artworks capture the beauty of these incredible mammals in a naturalistic style. 

FAIR FEATURES

Test your Luck with ‘Plucka Duck‘

For $2, you control the machine, but not the odds. A classic arcade claw, brimming with rubber ducks, transforms into a metaphor of survival. As technology and human influence reshape ecosystems, wildlife is forced to navigate a world no longer its own, adapting to artificial landscapes or vanishing altogether. 

All gold coin donations to play Plucka Duck will be donated to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.

District 23 is a collaborative trio inspired by minimalism and pop art, creating interactive works that invite curiosity and conversation. Their work has been recognised with the Peer Award at Swell and featured in the ‘Stay Golden’ exhibition at Pacific Fair. 

Snap a selfie with large-scale installation ‘Umbrella Effect’

Umbrella Effect is the second installation from the minds behind District 23 coming to the fair. Vibrant umbrellas, turned on their heads, blur the line between whimsy and contemplation, offering a physical interpretation of the “umbrella effect.” The installation speaks to the delicate equilibrium of our climate, where even the slightest shift can lead to unexpected consequences. 

Withdraw a custom artwork at Jackie Case’s ‘Art ATM’

Jackie Case will create five-minute sketches inside an interactive Art ATM. These bespoke artworks can be withdrawn with an idea submitted on a novelty credit card, allowing you to become a part of the creative process.

Jackie Case is a Melbourne-based artist renowned for her delicate, detailed illustrations. Represented by Rebecca Hossack Gallery in London and New York, her work has been exhibited internationally in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, London, and New York. Known for her ability to capture whimsy and emotion in the simplest of lines, she now invites you to take home a piece of her work in a truly unexpected way. 

Here’s how it works: 

1. Purchase a novelty credit card from the nearby cashier. 

2. Prompt a subject for your bespoke artwork onto the novelty card. 

3. Insert the card into the Art ATM. 

4. Artist Jackie Case, hidden inside, will create a unique, hand-drawn sketch just for you. 

Take a swing in Rachel Burke’s, ‘Under the Neon Moon’

Inspired by Rachel’s recent trips to Japan and South Korea, this collection reflects the nostalgia these places stirred in her, sparked by colorful treats, neon storefronts, and the charm of small collectibles. Blending new works with past creations, Rachel mixes toys, trinkets, and personal mementos to capture the warmth of memories, the excitement of discovery, and the joy of rediscovery.

Stroll through Blue Umbra’s Forrest Walk

Crafted from copper cables and steel, the work balances strength with fragility, transformation with endurance. These materials, once conductors of invisible energy, now take on new meaning, mirroring the adaptability of nature itself. This installation is a space for contemplation, inviting us to pause, breathe, and listen to the silent stories woven beneath our feet. 

MURALS

Creature Creature Mural

Chanel Tang and Ambrose Rehorek will showcase their unique collaborative style, drawing from their Chinese and Czech backgrounds to create a mural full of vibrant contrasts and smooth fluidity. Known for their work on Melbourne’s city walls, including the NGV, and collaborations with big names like Adidas, AS Colour, Cotton On, and The New Yorker, Creature Creature’s artwork is an exciting addition to our Brisbane fair.

Flourish: Stories of Meanjin by Lauren Rogers

Rooted in the lands of Meanjin, this mural is a tribute to the rich stories and enduring beauty of Country. Flourish: Stories of Meanjin brings to life the native flowers and foliage that thrive in this place, honouring the land, waters, and the custodians who have cared for it for millennia. 

The vibrant colours reflect the energy and diversity of Meanjin’s landscape, while the flowing dot work symbolises the deep connections between people, place, and culture. Just as the Brisbane River winds its way through this city, the artwork carries movement and rhythm, speaking to the unbroken relationship between First Nations peoples and Country. 

We are proud to partner with Resene to bring our fair murals to life.

FUEL YOUR ART SEARCH

Cafe x Nick Olsen

This year, Cafe x Nick Olsen is inspired by our dreamy campaign artwork. Sunshine-yellow umbrellas, lush green grass, and picturesque patio-style seating, evoke a sunny, beachside atmosphere. Twinkling festoon lighting adds to the charm, all set against a large-scale version of Brisbane-based artist Nick Olsen’s iconic artwork ‘Close to Heaven’.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Buy your tickets online, or at the fair!  

Plan ahead or be spontaneous, it’s totally up to you! Snap up your tickets online and enjoy our Advanced Ticket sale, or get tickets on the door.

If you want to purchase your tickets upon arrival, head over to our ticket desk. Whether you want to pay with your card or mobile device, we can take your payment quickly to maximise your time in the fair aisles. 

With so much to see and do, what are you waiting for? Secure your Advanced Tickets and sign up for fair updates to receive all our exclusive arty news, offers and inspiration.

Main image: Plucka Duck by District 23