British Art Fair
Modern and Contemporary British Art
26—29 September 2024
Saatchi Gallery, London, SW3 4RY

British Art Fair, the only fair dedicated to Modern and Contemporary British art, takes place from 26 to 29 September 2024 at Saatchi Gallery, in the heart of London’s vibrant Chelsea. Promoting British art since 1988, the Fair has grown from its Modern British roots to become a showcase for excellence in homegrown art from the early 20th century right up to today.

Works by Britain’s most famous artists including Frank Auerbach, Banksy, John Craxton, Tracey Emin, Terry Frost, Barbara Hepworth, Damien Hirst, Ivon Hitchens, David Hockney, Henry Moore, John Piper, Bridget Riley, William Scott and many more are shown by over 80 of the UK’s leading dealers. These include Austin/Desmond, Patrick Bourne, Jonathan Clark, Osborne Samuel, Redfern Gallery, Portland Gallery, The Fine Art Society, Alan Wheatley and Whitford Fine Art.

In recent sales, established Modern British artists are holding their ground and previously neglected artists are coming to the fore, showing this market has great depth.

SOLO Contemporary
For the third year, SOLO Contemporary, a section curated by artist and gallerist, Zavier Ellis, focuses on Britain’s most talented living artists. “Over the past three years SOLO Contemporary has provided critical exposure to British collectors for emerging to mid-career contemporary artists. This year will include a selection of the UK’s most exciting curators and gallerists offering significant one-person presentations.”  Zavier Ellis

Wilhelmina Barns-Graham 'Celebration at 90' (2002) Screenprint. Courtesy Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust

Special Exhibition: Wilhelmina Barns-Graham
This year, British Art Fair is joined by the Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust who will be exhibiting a selection of Barns-Graham’s works alongside pieces by six contemporary artists who the Trust supports. Wilhelmina Barns-Graham was one of Britain’s most significant 20th century modern artists. Scottish born and a prominent member of the post-war St Ives group, she was a sublime painter, draughtswoman, printmaker and a brilliant colourist. Dividing her time between studios in St Ives and St Andrews, she followed a consistent artistic vision throughout her sixty-five-year career. The Fair will also see the launch of a new book published by Lund Humphries, focused on Barns-Graham’s ‘Glacier’ series and the first book aimed at children, which looks at the artist’s long and productive life.

Work by AI.S.A.M. One of the participating artists in PIVOTAL: Digitalism at British Art Fair 2024

Pivotal: The Launch of Digitalism at British Art Fair
An innovation this year is a section dedicated to digital art in Britain today. Titled ‘PIVOTAL: Digitalism’, it is curated and produced by prominent academic and interdisciplinary artist, Rebekah Tolley-Georgiou, with an advisory team including digitalist luminaries such as Tomas Roope, Peter Higgins, Lol Sargent, Jack Hardiker, Jacqui Kenny and Tom Cullen. ‘PIVOTAL: Digitalism’ will present for sale digital art in all formats, from AI, AR, VR, digital sculpture, moving image, photography and painting, with immersive installations. This is the first dedicated digital section in a major art fair and will include works by leading artists in the field such as David Sheldrick, AI.S.A.M., X New Worlds and Untold Garden.

Headline Partner: Powerhouse at Chelsea Waterfront
British Art Fair is delighted to announce a new Headline Partner for 2024: Powerhouse at Chelsea Waterfront. Powerhouse is an iconic London landmark and a cathedral of the industrial age which transformed the historic twin-turreted power station that once powered the London Underground, into an imaginative complex of 260 luxury apartments and over 40,000 sf commercial spaces at Chelsea Waterfront. Masterminded by Hutchison Property Group (UK) Limited, world experts in creating waterfront places to live, Powerhouse boasts landscaped gardens, waterfront restaurants and a state-of-the-art wellness centre for residents. Taking on a revolutionary new form, Powerhouse will offer a 21st century living experience like no other in one of London’s most coveted boroughs, a unique address which is opening the Powerhouse up to the public.

Collectors’ Preview Partner
Plowden & Smith join British Art Fair as Collectors’ Preview Partner. Since 1966, Plowden & Smith has provided specialist conservation, restoration and mount making services to the world’s most discerning collectors, fine art market professionals and the global museum sector.

Charity Partner: WaterAid
WaterAid aims to highlight the importance of the humble loo with this exciting exhibition and auction: ‘Best Seat in the House’. The collaboration with renowned photographer Rankin has seen 25 artists and celebrities design their own unique toilet seat to raise awareness and vital funds to help ‘lift the lid’ on the sanitation crisis.

This remarkable collection of one-of-a-kind artworks, features contributions from Martin Parr, George Morton-Clark, Boy George, Dame Zandra Rhodes, Pam Hogg, Val Garland, Ozwald Boateng, Pure Evil, Hayden Kays, Sophie Tea and Harry Hill, among others, who have added a splash of luxury to an everyday item - showcasing how toilets, a basic necessity for many, remain a luxury for 1.5 billion people.

This marks the third year of a successful charity partnership between WaterAid and the British Art Fair. The collection is on display on the second floor and is available for sale through an online auction.

View the collection at wateraid.org/bestseat

Visit British Art Fair 2024
Saatchi’s spacious galleries create an elegant and calm atmosphere for visitors to view paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, prints and ceramics, and enjoy an exciting programme of curated events. Specialist dealers are on hand to discuss every aspect of buying art.

British Art Fair is a flagship for British art, an important fixture in the art world calendar enjoyed by over 12,000 visitors a year.