Affordable Art Fair Brisbane is back from 7 – 10 May, and it’s set to be our biggest fair yet.

Each year, we champion emerging artists through our Discover: Young Talent platform. In 2026, we’re proud to spotlight five exciting rising stars: Laura Pittam, Sian Farrell, Sophie Clews, Mai Naito, and Polly Dawson.

Get to know the artists, dive into their creative practices, and enjoy a first look at the incredible work they’ll be bringing to the fair.

Laura Pittam

Laura Pittam’s art is shaped by a deep longing for the Swiss French heritage she was distanced from growing up in Australia. Through the Robyn Daw Scholarship at Logan Art Gallery, Laura began to explore this divide in her work.

Using old photos of her mother, she found a new style of painting that felt more authentic to her practice. In Switzerland, the quiet moments spent in her grandmother’s chalet became a source of inspiration. The intimate scenes, from snow-covered mountains to firelit rooms, led her to paint on smaller canvases. Now, she’s experimenting with larger canvases and collage techniques to explore her connection to her mother and the passage of time.

Laura Pittam’s nostalgic works feel like a glimpse into treasured moments: soft light, familiar faces, and the warmth of home. Take in the energy of Laura’s emotive paintings at our fair.

Sian Farrell

Sian is a Brisbane-based multidisciplinary artist, whose practice spans across several different creative forms, combining precise detail with a more free, expressive style. After spending ten years navigating the high-pressure world of architecture, Sian’s transition into fine art was sparked in 2022, following an accident that left her unable to walk for months. In this, she found the clarity to step away, deciding to focus on her creative passions instead.

In 2023, Sian began teaching herself tattooing, which helped her develop a strong, recognisable creative style while connecting with a community of other artists. Her technical skills reflect this journey – moving from the controlled world of architecture into a more open and expressive way of creativity, where feeling and spontaneity play a central role.

We can’t wait to explore Sian’s detailed artwork up close this May!

“I realised that if I didn’t make the change now, then I might never find the right time”

Sophie Clews

Catch a glimpse at Sophie’s fine, intricate artworks. Sophie creates highly detailed artwork, inspired by everyday life, personal memories, and photographs. She is interested in how small moments and images stay with us over time, even as we leave those memories behind.

Her artwork is hyper realistic and looks almost like a photograph at first glance. Her process starts with analysing a photo, then slowly recreating it, taking time reflect on the image and subtly change how it feels. This process makes familiar scenes feel like memories you’re revisiting.

Her recent work encourages people to slow down and reflect on the subtlety of everyday moments. It’s perfect for any art-lover’s walls.

Mai Naito

Inspired by nature and emotion, Japanese born photographer Mai Naito creates soft, dreamlike artwork. Mai focuses on how nature makes you feel, drawing on memories, light, colour, and movement to shape her work.

As a child, Mai spent a lot of time exploring natural environments like gardens, forests, and waterways, which felt almost magical to her. That sense of wonder continues to influence her photography today. When she takes photos, she’s not trying to document a scene exactly as it is, but to capture the mood or feeling of a moment as it passes.

Slow down, take a breath, and reconnect with Mai’s tranquil artwork.

Polly Dawson

That wraps up our rundown of the talented young artists exhibiting at Affordable Art Fair Brisbane this year. Don’t forget to snap up a ticket and join us from 7 – 10 May at Exhibition Building, Brisbane Showgrounds.