Must see: Melbourne Fair Team’s Top Picks 2025
Introducing the Melbourne team’s top artwork picks ahead of Affordable Art Fair Melbourne 2025, 28 – 31 August.
Paige Spurrell
Tuesday 5 August, 2025
Affordable Art Fair Melbourne is the perfect place for art enthusiasts and collectors alike to discover hidden gems without breaking the bank. Our enthusiastic team has hand-picked a selection of their top artworks, guiding you through our diverse, inspiring and budget friendly finds on display at this year’s fair. From contemporary paintings to woven works, we’ve highlighted pieces all waiting to adorn your space and ignite your imagination.
Georgia Huestis | Fair Director
Georgia is our discerning Fair Director, whose expert eye significantly enriches our team. One of her top selections from the year is Edwina Edwards ‘Buffalo Ridge’ from Brunswick Street Gallery. Edwina is a contemporary Australian Artist hailing from Albury, NSW, who captures the essence of the Australian landscape through colours and lighting in her unique emotive works. Her gestural brushstrokes and texture bring her landscape works to life.
“I’ve been following Edwina’s work for several years now after discovering her at an exhibition at Brunswick Street Gallery, and am excited to have her join us with them for the coming Melbourne fair.”
Georgia’s second pick is Becoming by Ben Liney (In-Land Gallery). Georgia loves Ben Liney’s hyper-realistic, intricate oil paintings. His paintings draw us into the timelessness of our natural landscapes, and how every microorganism holds memory.
“Ben was an Artist in Action with us in 2023, it was a pleasure to watch his skilful hand at work each day. Each of his paintings are filled with a remarkable amount of detail that are a must-see in person.”
If you’d like some expert advice, read Georgia’s guide to buying art at our fair.
Stephanie Kelly Gordine | APAC Regional Managing Director
Steph brings her vast knowledge and leadership skills to the forefront of our team. This year, Steph has spotlighted the mesmerising artwork ‘Heading home from the hills’ by Andrew Hopgood. Expertly forging a moody landscape at dusk, Andrew Hopgood’s work is the perfect addition to any Kiwi abroad’s collection. See more of his paintings at Gallery Alchemy’s stand at the front of our fair (A01).
“I adore how Hopgood captures the moody, and ethereal landscape that I miss when away from my home-country.”
Nikki Berriman | Fair Manager
Nikki has impeccable taste and owns her own eclectic collection of contemporary artworks in all shapes, sizes and mediums. As she put’s it “A whole mixed bags of treasures”. Nikki has chosen the bold, dynamic piece ‘Tetrachroma I’ By Brett Moore (Gallery by Dave). Brett Moore carefully considers shape, structure and light to craft his acrylic paint skins, that are mounted onto acrylic Perspex and fitted with custom LED lighting. Nikki’s love for structure and industrial pieces drew her to Brett’s vivid, exciting mixed media.
“The lightness and fluidity of the acrylic skins whilst looking almost industrial and sculptural is intriguing and satisfies both sides of my brain.”
Jo Barby | Gallery Relationship Manager
Jo is an accomplished visual artist with a keen eye for visually captivating artworks. She has been inspired by Maryanne Moodie’s (Naarm Textile Collective) texturally rich and intricate small scale woven wall works. Maryanne’s contemporary woven artworks have been featured in publications around the world. They are intuitively tangled, holding space for motherhood, nostalgia, and the messiness of everyday life.
Miranda Smith | Marketing Manager
Equally passionate about art, Miranda brings a creative perspective to our team as an artist with her own successful practice. Her top pick this year is Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) by Michael Jangala Gallagher. Captivated by the visual vocabulary of the artwork, Miranda was captivated by the paintings emotive, spiritual storytelling. Michael Jangala Gallagher’s work will be at Warlukurlangu Artists, our Access Partner at Affordable Art Fair Melbourne. Don’t miss out on seeing many more of their bold, inspiring Aboriginal Artworks at stand G1.
“The remarkable and detailed storytelling drew me to Michael’s practice. He paints his father’s and grandfather’s Yankirri Jukurrpa (Emu Dreaming) – Ngarlikirlangu, Jukurrpa stories, filling the canvas with rich depictions of Country.”
Paige Spurrell | Marketing Coordinator
As a self-proclaimed art history nerd, I find myself deeply moved by Alice Laura Palmer’s (P3 Collective) Void Space Diptych. Her mastery of classical painting techniques breathes life into abstract emotional landscapes, creating a visual language that resonates with my inner world. This piece evokes a profound sense of nostalgia and introspection, which is both comforting and emotional for me.
Sam Chong | Fair Coordinator
Sam is our fun, dynamic arts administrator. Sam has picked Kasia Frankowicz’s ‘Sleep’ (REBIRTH Arts Collective). Kasia’s artworks are a celebration of her identity, creating work inspired by pop art and street culture. Her work uses bright colours and bold brushstrokes to draw us in, inviting us to an imagined world, sometimes light-hearted, sometimes deeply emotional. ‘Sleep’ is both a comforting and nostalgic reminiscence of those quiet moments spent alone.
Ping Tan | Operations Executive
Ping pieces together all the intricate details that brings our fairs to life. She has chosen this quiet, evocative still – life by our Young Talent artist Ronald Chu. When asked about her piece, Ping said:
“I am drawn to the sense of calm and serenity that this artwork evokes.”
Ping’s pick comes from our Discover: Young Talent platform, offering you the opportunity to explore the creativity of Melbourne’s Next-gen artists.
Join us at Affordable Art Fair Melbourne this August 28 – 31 and immerse yourself in an inspiring array of artworks that cater to every taste and budget. Grab your tickets now.
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