British Art Fair
Modern and Contemporary British Art
26—29 September 2024
Saatchi Gallery, London, SW3 4RY
A special exhibition of the work of Wilhelmina Barns Graham is to be held at British Art Fair 2024
British Art Fair is pleased to be hosting a special exhibition of works by the pioneering modernist artist Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, CBE (1912-2004), curated by the artist’s own Trust.
Wilhelmina Barns-Graham was at the forefront of Modernism, and her outstanding contribution to post-war British art is currently gaining ever greater recognition. A documentary on the artist’s life, A Sudden Glimpse into Deeper Things, by filmmaker Mark Cousins premiered in July 2024 at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it won the Crystal Globe Award for Best Film. One of Barns-Graham’s most celebrated works, Red Table is currently included the The Shape of Things: Still Life in Britain exhibition at Pallant House Gallery. A commemorative plaque to the artist was unveiled in St. Andrews in June 2024. An illustrated children’s book An Introduction to the life of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham with activities, by Annabel Wright and Kate Temple was released on 21 August. A new book, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: The Glaciers, is to be published by Lund Humphries with a book launch at British Art Fair on Saturday 28 September at 2pm. The book provides the first comprehensive account of Barns Graham's unique, and life-long, artistic response to Switzerland's Grindelwald Glacier. It is Barns-Graham’s Glacier works that take centre stage in the British Art Fair exhibition. Three original works on papers made following her time in Switzerland 1949-50 will be shown alongside the release of a spectacular new tapestry made in a collaboration between the Trust and Edinburgh’s Dovecot Studios. This new textile work presents an interpretation of the amazing 1951 painting Glacier Ice Face.
Alongside the Glacier series, the British Art Fair exhibition will show a selection of the artist’s late career screenprints, which are a great colourful, energetic, and affordable, introduction to the artist’s late work, in particular the works she made with Graal Press.
From One to Another - Cornwall x Scotland
Six Contemporary Artists
Wilhelmina Barns-Graham lived between Cornwall and Scotland and her Trust recently funded an exchange residency via Visual Arts Scotland, providing six selected artists with opportunities to work in the historic Anchor Studio in Newlyn (managed by the BSJW Trust), Marchmont House in the Borders and Linkshouse on Orkney. An exhibition of work created during this prestigious residency programme will be revealed at British Art Fair. The artists:
From Cornwall:
From Scotland:
Wilhelmina Barns-Graham
Wilhelmina Barns-Graham was born in St Andrews, Fife, in June 1912. After studying at Edinburgh College of Art, she moved to Cornwall where she became a prominent member of the St Ives school, alongside Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth and Naum Gabo. From the 1960s, the artist kept studios in both St Andrews and St Ives, and travelled significantly across Europe, drawing inspiration and insight from the landscapes and seascapes she came across along the way. Barns-Graham was one Britain’s most prolific artists, whose career spanned eight decades and included a progression from figurative to abstract painting and printmaking. Her work features in major private collections (David Bowie was a collector) as well as public collections in the UK and internationally including Tate Britain, The British Museum and the National Galleries of Scotland. She was awarded the CBE in 2001 for services to art.
The Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust
The Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust was founded by the artist in 1987 to enhance the reputation and understanding of her work, and through her legacy, supports young people and other individuals to fulfil their potential in the visual arts.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
British Art Fair
British Art Fair, the only fair for Modern and Contemporary British art, takes place every autumn at London’s Saatchi Gallery. 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. As well as the special Wilhelmina Barns Graham exhibition, this year’s events include the addition of PIVOTAL: Digitalism, showing the latest AR, AI, video and digital art.
2024 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 is British Art Fair’s official charity for the third time in 2024.
BLAST and British Art News
British Art Fair publishes news on all areas of Modern and Contemporary British Art in public and commercial galleries every week in a column edited by author Alex Leith. The Fair sponsors BLAST | Art Market Report, a monthly and independent report by Colin Gleadell with exclusive content on the British art market.
Read and sign up for free at www.britishartfair.co.uk/blast
About Saatchi Gallery
Since 1985, Saatchi Gallery has provided an innovative platform for contemporary art. Exhibitions have presented works by largely unseen young artists, or by international artists whose work has been rarely or never exhibited in the UK. This approach has made the Gallery one of the most recognised names in contemporary art. Since moving to its current 70,000 square feet space in the Duke of York’s Headquarters in Chelsea, London, the Gallery has welcomed over 10 million visitors. The Gallery hosts thousands of school visits annually and has over 6 million followers on social media. In 2019, Charles Saatchi formally stepped back from his management of Saatchi Gallery with the organisation beginning a new chapter in its history as a fully independent registered charity.
British Art Fair
Modern and Contemporary British Art
26 — 29 September 2024
Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York HQ, King’s Road, London SW3 4RY
www.britishartfair.co.uk
office@britishartfair.co.uk
Instagram: @britishartfair | Facebook: @britishartfair
Twitter: @BritishArtFair #BAF24 #BritishArtFair
Opening Hours
Collectors' Preview, Thursday 26 September, 11am – 9pm
Friday 27 September, 11am – 9pm
Saturday 28 September, 11am – 6pm
Sunday 29 September, 11am – 5pm
Last entry is half an hour before the fair is due to close.
Ticketing
Pre-booking is advised
Collectors’ Preview - £60
General Admission - £22 (advance), £25 (Fair week)
Concessions - £19 (advance), £22 (Fair week)
Under 16s - free, booking required and must be accompanied by an adult
Carer/Companion - free - email tickets@britishartfair.co.uk to secure the ticket.
Press Contact: Jessica Wood, Head of Communications, British Art Fair
jessica@britishartfair.co.uk Tel: + 44 (0)7939 226988
Images for British Art Fair Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Promotion
