London art fairs guide – quick links
October brings a host of art fairs and exhibitions to London, drawing international galleries and artists from all over the world. It’s a chance to see everything from Old Masters, to contemporary talents and rising stars.
The Other Art Fair (9–12 October)
The Other Art Fair takes over London’s The Truman Brewery for four days and nights of bold, brash, and brilliant contemporary art.
The Other Art Fair is known for doing art differently and combines affordable and original artworks from over 175 independent artists with immersive installations, live performances, music and DJs, and a fully stocked bar.
There’s so much more than just art on the walls here. There are wine tastings, live mural creations, and sip-and-create workshops. The London art fair’s curators have also edited special collections, such as Ones to Watch and Seasonal Shift, to help you find a piece that’s right for you.
Frieze London & Frieze Masters (15–19 October)
Frieze London and Frieze Masters are back in The Regent’s Park this month with works spanning six millennia of art history on show alongside today’s most exciting contemporary artists.
Frieze really does bring the art world to London with more than 280 galleries from 45 countries, and it’s held in two of the fanciest marquees you’ll ever see. A mainstay of the London arts calendar, Frieze affirms London’s defining role as a global centre of artistic exchange, shaped by profound expertise across histories and geographies.
This year sees the return of the Frieze London Artist Award and celebrated Frieze Masters Talks. Frieze Sculpture, the celebrated free public art initiative curated by Fatoş Üstek, is open now and runs to 2 November at the English Gardens at The Regent’s Park.
Minor Attractions (14–18 October)
Returning to The Mandrake hotel in the heart of Fitzrovia for its third edition, the intriguing Minor Attractions arts festival is an alternative art fair in step with London’s cultural undercurrents.
This year it presents an expanded line-up of over 70 galleries from the UK and around the world, spread over 15 hotel rooms, along with an exciting program of music, film and performance in the grounds of the hotel.
Taking place in the same week as the major Frieze London art fair, Minor Attractions brings together contemporary art and nightlife to offer an exciting taste of London’s emerging art scene.
The Affordable Art Fair (15–19 October)
The Affordable Art Fair is always a fun fixture on London’s art calendar. Taking place at Evolution London in Battersea Park, it’s another of the satellite events taking place around Frieze London.
While prices at the Frieze London art fair are usually for the top end of town, the Affordable Art Fair lives up to its name with thousands of original artworks works from just £100. There’s also a curated collection of Finds Under £500.
This year, it showcases contemporary art from 114 galleries across 17 countries. Highlights include a striking new installation The Messy Middle by abstract artist Beth Shapeero; the popular exhibition of work by recent graduates and special displays for Black History Month. The program also includes Art After Dark events, weekend family mornings and even drop-in embroidery workshops.
Bloomsbury Festival (17–19 October)
The popular Bloomsbury Festival returns for its 20th year with a busy weekend of theatre, music, literature, art, science, walks, talks and family events.
The festival fills the streets of Bloomsbury and Camden in a joyful and thoughtful celebration of community and culture. This year’s theme is The Paths We Tread. Inspired by the heritage and stories of the local streets, the theme also sees artists exploring their personal, cultural and creative paths.
This year’s Bloomsbury Festival opens with the free Songs and Ballads Showcase. Led by singers from Bloomsbury and beyond, it celebrates songs that highlight the history of Bloomsbury and St Giles as well as the cultures and communities of today. There’s also a free outdoor sculpture exhibition with work by Michael Craig-Martin.
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair (16–19 October)
Founded in 2013, 1-54 is the first and only international fair dedicated to contemporary African art. Each year there are fairs in New York, Marrakesh and London, presenting international galleries, artist talks, panel discussions and special projects.
The name 1-54 is a reference to the 54 countries that make up the African continent. This year’s London art fair includes more than 50 international exhibitors from 13 countries across a diverse range of mediums, from painting to photography, sculpture, performance, textiles and ceramics.
