My Affordable Art HK

The Affordable Art Fair has aimed to help art-lovers discover the joy of collecting art, since it was founded 20 years ago in Battersea Park, London. This ethos holds true for the Hong Kong fair, where we have been welcomed over 151,000 new and experienced collectors since the inaugural fair in 2013. They have browsed thousands of stunning artworks, with over 12,500 finding happy new homes.

Over the years, we’ve seen many happy smiles on the faces of collectors who have fallen in love with a new piece of art, that we couldn’t help but ask a few to share the stories behind their #myaffordableart purchases. And, because we know that purchasing your first piece of art can be an intimidating process – we’ve also asked them for their top tip for collectors-to-be. Read on for some serious inspiration!

Claire Yates, Founder of The Lion Rock Press

“Depicting all the countries in the world that once held a British passport, the archival print is hand gilded with shades of genuine gold leaf. It’s not only beautiful, fluid and luxurious but historically fascinating too. As a third-culture child, Eurasian, and someone who has lived and worked all over the world, I just love to see the shapes of the countries and appreciate the history of the British Empire.”

Her advice for collectors?

“Invest in pieces you really love and appreciate and be prepared to dig deep for something really special – you won’t regret it.”

Laura Southwood, Managing Director at PRIME PR

“I was drawn to it as soon as I saw it. I loved the playfulness of the print.”

Laura’s advice on collecting art for a Hong Kong apartment?

“Buy art because you like it, not because it’s an investment. I like art that makes me smile so I choose pieces that do just that. Having a small apartment doesn’t mean you have to look for small sized artwork. I find that larger pieces have a big impact and can make a room feel larger than it actually is.”

Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre

“As I was touring the Affordable Art Fair in 2017, the vibrant colour of this painting caught my attention from a distance. As I came closer to the art piece; I started to admire the wonderful painting technique that created the Depth of Field effect. I just could not walk away from it and had to take it home with me.”

Her advice for young collectors in the region?

“Acquire art work that you enjoy and at a value that you feel worthwhile. If its value appreciates over time, that’s a bonus; if it doesn’t, who cares!”

Greg Pearce, Managing Director of One Space Limited

“We enjoy cities and love to stroll the streets of wherever we visit. It’s not clear which city is shown here – this painting leaves it open to our imagination – but for us, it represents Manhattan, one of our world’s favourite cities.”

His advice for selecting the perfect artwork for your home?

“Be selective. One single large powerful piece can really bring even a small room to life, provided that it doesn’t crowd out the other belongings such as furniture.”

Laura Egloff, Fashion Designer and Creative Director, Velveteen

“We’re drawn to larger pieces with either monochromatic or vibrant colours but the most important aspect that attracts us to work is the technique that is used.”

Her advice for young collectors in the region?

“Follow your instincts. Art is truly a matter of personal taste and you have to want to surround yourself with these pieces as a way of expressing yourself through your home. Whether or not an artist’s work will appreciate in value might not be as important as whether or not it fills you with joy when you look at it.”

Nashua Gallagher, media professional, author and founding director of Peel Street Poetry

“We took one look at each other and knew that the artwork had found a home with us. We were celebrating our ten-year wedding anniversary and decided this was an appropriate way to mark it. Purchasing it to enhance the home we made together was a really nice way to mark a milestone because the symbolism is rather appropriate – two different people moved by a piece in the same way is such a rarity.”

A few words of advice for young collectors?

“Go with what moves you! You’re likely to keep enjoying it for many years to come.”

With only a few weeks until Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong takes place (16 – 19 May, HKCEC), why not join us at the fair and fall in love with your own piece of art? Follow the links below to buy tickets to the fair, and don’t miss out on the e-Catalogue where you’ll find a sneak peek at a few of the 1000s of artworks that will be on display!

We’d love to hear about the inspiration behind the artworks you’ve purchased, don’t forget to use the hashtag #myaffordableart when posting on Instagram and tag us!

Main Image:
Collectors browsing art at Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong 2018.

Featured art from first to last:
Claire Yates, Founder of The Lion Rock Press, pictured with the collectors artwork, titled British Empire, 2017, by Yanko Tihov, represented by TAG Fine Arts.
Laura Southwood, Managing Director at PRIME PR.
Interior image courtesy of Laura Southwood, including the collectors artwork, titled Right Foot Blue, 2018, by Gavin Mitchell represented by Turner Barnes Gallery.
Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, pictured with the collectors artwork, titled Glynde Blossom, 2017, by Vanessa Whitehouse, represented by Quantum Contemporary Art.
Greg Pearce, Managing Director of One Space Limited.
Interior image courtesy of Greg Pearce, including the collectors artwork, titled Misplaced, 2017, by Angelo Accardi represented by Palma Arte gallery.
Beijing Girl 2015-2, 2015 by Zhang Xiangming represented by Soemo Fine Arts. Image owned by and courtesy of Laura Egloff, Fashion Designer and Creative Director at Velveteen.
Nashua Gallagher, Media Professional, Author and Founding Director of Peel Street Poetry, pictured with the collectors artwork, titled Rising Tide, by Philip Raskin, represented by Marine House at Beer.