Affordable Art Fair will return for its Autumn edition in the iconic setting of Battersea Park this October, bringing together 114 galleries from 17 countries around the world.
Highlights at Affordable Art Fair Battersea Autumn will include the annual Graduates Exhibition, a showcase of 30 emerging artists from across the UK selected from the UK’s top degree shows; Family Mornings with plenty to entertain and inspire the youngest art lovers; Art After Dark lates featuring an interactive embroidery workshops and a DJ; a vibrant installation by Programme Artist, Beth Shapero; a Black History Month curated exhibition; Hugo Barclay’s Director’s Cut spotlighting artists of note; and new audio guides, which will offer an in-depth insight into some of the artist stories showcased at the fair.
Artworks on sale at Affordable Art Fair Battersea Autumn will range from exciting up and coming artists to watch, to household names including Grayson Perry, Damien Hurst, and Anish Kapoor.
RISING ART STARS: RECENT GRADUATES EXHIBITION
30 up-and-coming artists have been hand-picked from degree shows across the UK by art historian, contemporary curator, and host of Jo’s Art History Podcast, Jo McLaughlin and Affordable Art Fair UK Director Hugo Barclay, to be exhibited at the Affordable Art Fair in October.
Affordable Art Fair’s Graduates Exhibition will feature emerging artists from across the UK each working in a range of mediums, including stained and blown glass, ceramics, photography, illustration, and painting. The Recent Graduates exhibit is a great place for both new and experienced collectors to source unique pieces from the most exciting young creatives in the art scene today. Seven artists are creating works especially for the fair, having sold their degree artworks.
Creative
Jo McLaughlin, Exhibition Curator, said: “The UK is bursting with creative talent, and I am incredibly proud to have seven cities and twelve universities represented on the stand this year. Featuring works by what I believe to be some of the most exciting young artists emerging onto the scene, the exhibit is truly a unique opportunity to celebrate the vibrancy of the UK art scene in 2025.”
Artists spotlighted in the Affordable Art Fair Graduates Exhibition include:
Glass artist and recent Royal College of Art graduate, Emma Goring uses ancient glassblowing techniques to create glass sculptural works located within a contemporary context. Goring trained in the Maldives, and her colourful glasswork takes inspiration from the natural world, from the tiny structures of bacteria to the megalithic creations of generations of coral dwelling polyps.
Kristina Haritonova’s series of ceramic snails explore ideas of migration, uprooting, place and what home really means. Originally from Latvia, Haritonova is a recent graduate of Glasgow School of Art.
Stained glass artist Aoife Mary Hogan explores memory of the sea, place and colour in her glasswork, following in her grandmother’s footsteps who likewise studied in stained glass at the Glasgow School of Art.
Working in painting, print and embroidery, Camberwell College of Arts graduate Lotte Johnson’s practice explores memory, liminality, and the spaces between presence and absence. Originally from Scotland, her work has featured in exhibitions across London, including Bankside Gallery, Southwark Park Galleries, Bargehouse, Copeland Gallery, Safehouse 2, and the Women in Art Fair at OXO Tower Gallery.
PROGRAMME ARTIST: BETH SHAPEERO
Glasgow-based Beth Shapero’s bold installation will greet visitors as they enter the fair. In our increasingly complex world, Beth finds power in stripping away the unnecessary, distilling art to its most essential forms. Her practice celebrates the beautiful contradiction of controlled spontaneity: marks made quickly and loosely that emerge from years of rigorous training. What appears effortless actually requires deep mastery of colour, composition, and perfect timing.
From a love affair with pink to her powerful community workshops supporting young people’s mental health, Beth’s approach to abstract art is refreshingly honest and deeply human. “I’m hoping to create a real ‘wow’ impact when people walk in,” says Beth. “The scale and ambition will be striking.”
FAMILY FUN FOR LITTLE ART LOVERS (SAT & SUN, 10am-12pm)
Affordable Art Fair’s highly popular Family Mornings will be back for Battersea Autumn, with activity packs, a giant colour-me-in wall, face-painting and family facilities on offer for little art lovers, as well as a special curated display of Art for Kids’ Spaces . Running from 10am-12pm on Saturday and Sunday The Kids’ Creative Corner will also be returning, offering children the chance to take part in drop-in art workshops and let their creativity flow.
ART AFTER DARK LATES (THURS & FRI, 5-9pm)
With live DJ sets, complimentary welcome drinks, and drop-in workshops, the fair will be open until 9pm on Thursday and Friday evening, making it the perfect setting for a fun night out with friends or an artistic date night.
Visitors can join artist Joke Amusan for drop-in embroidery workshops upstairs, creating unique textile art by stitching words of hope and resilience while sharing stories and reflections. Joke will be guiding participants in creating their very own textile artworks, inviting visitors taking part to share their stories and reflections and encouraging communication through creative practice. Her work primarily focuses around the theme of amplifying the voices of women, particularly within the Black community. She has previously led workshops with Tate Modern, Somerset House, Crafts Council, The Barbican, Create London, and Canal & River Trust.
Affordable Art Fair Battersea Autumn
Venue: Battersea Evolution, Battersea Park, Queenstown Road, London SW11 4NJ, UK
Private View: Wednesday 15 October
Public Opening Times: Thursday 16 – Sunday 19 October
Age Guidelines: All Evening Events 18+ only. At other times, u16s must be accompanied by an adult.
About Affordable Art Fair
Affordable Art Fair has democratised the art market with its fun and welcoming approach, bringing art under £10,000 to fairs in 16 cities around the world, including three fairs a year in London’s Battersea Park and Hampstead Heath. Each fair offers something unique, with over 100 leading national and international galleries showcasing 1,000s of contemporary artworks in all styles and mediums. With special installations and commissions, Late nights, family morning and more, there’s something for every art lover to enjoy. You can find works by renowned artists nestled alongside the best in up-and-coming talent. In fact, the fair has a long-held tradition of supporting emerging artists to establish their career, through yearly Recent Graduates Showcases and a collaboration with University of the Arts London at Hampstead.
Affordable Art Fair celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2024.
