Brussels 2024: Fair Director’s picks
In advance of Affordable Art Fair Brussels 2024, Fair Director Blythe Bolton has narrowed down a selection of artwork top picks.
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Blythe Bolton
Monday 29 January, 2024
This February we celebrate the 15th anniversary of Affordable Art Fair Brussels with another art-packed edition at Tour & Taxis.
In addition to the presentation of over 600 artists from 88 galleries, the fair will be filled with projects and programming. To name a few, we’ll host a stunning installation from internationally acclaimed artist Tomislav Topic, lose ourselves in Jules Wittock’s immersive labyrinth and get inspired by the transformation of books, Barbies and building materials in our Spotlight on Uncommon Materials section.
We’ll introduce blossoming curatorial talent Natania Dan with a showcase of Belgium’s brightest young stars, a spectacular public sculpture initiative from SOS Kinderdorpen which is set for installation at Square Marguerite Duras in 2025 and Enjoy the Unexpected with a special travel-themed exhibition from artist Malou Cohen in collaboration with This is Basel.
So there’s lots to look forward to! Here are some of my top picks from the artworks on sale at the fair…
Under €500
As always, there are gems to be found at every price point at Affordable Art Fair and here are a trio of my favourites.
You won’t be able to miss the bright, bold works of Ghent-based artist Lindert Steegen who will be presented in a solo show by Kalkman Gallery this year.
His ‘Slowly but Surely’ screen-print showcases the artists’ playful style perfectly.
At the other end of the emotional spectrum, this dark and sophisticated abstract work from Philipp Haucke is a beautiful example of a technique that I’d love to see more contemporary artists exploring – mezzotint! Developed in the 17th Century using copper plates and ink, it enables artists to create these beautiful, velvety gradations in tone.
New to the fair, I’m looking forward to quizzing the team at Galeria de Arte Casa Zóbel about Jacobo Eid’s innovative 3D works. This chaos of connected forms has a mercurial quality that I would love to get my hands on.
Crazy Genius
I love visiting the homes of people with bold art collections. So often people ‘play it safe’ out of fear of other people’s judgement which, sadly, means that many miss out on the impact that living with a powerful, statement work can have.
In those moments when completing tax returns at the kitchen table on a rainy Tuesday afternoon it’s good to have something a little bit crazy on your wall. These three paintings from Snezana Petrovic, John Burgerman and Taco Sipma are glorious visual reminders of the infinite depth of the human imagination.
Street Smart
I’m slowly but surely becoming a bit of an Urban Art geek and these two works are straight from the pro’s – NASTY and SVEN.
For me, the appeal in these artists’ works lies in the complexity of their energies – both bursting brilliant colours and the dynamism of the artists’ movement yet somehow soft through the curved lines and aerated landing of the paint pigments.
Naturally Pretty
There’s an organic sensuality about these two paintings from Jeanne André and Cristina Díaz that caught my eye while making this year’s selection.
At this time of year especially, I get caught up in the hustle and bustle of work and start missing time in nature. These works are beautiful places to let the mind drift into that feeling of natural connection for a little pause.
If I could only have one…
I think I would take this figurative work by Croatian painter, Stjepan Sandrk, which stopped me in my scrolling.
Not only is it compositionally complex, skillfully combining unusual angles and perspectives; it’s packed with symbolism and questions.
Questions about stories, symbols, home, history, meaning, technology, art history, gender equality, adventure, flesh, reflection, Freud, Jeff Bezos, greed… It’s a conversation-starting artwork that could take us anywhere.
I hope to see you at the fair! Join us from 7 – 11 February 2024 at Tour & Taxis.
Lead image: Stjepan Sandrk, Spectacle (Minjun), 2022, oil on canvas, 50x75cm, €2300, Winarts Arte
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