Affordable Art Fair Highlights: Sculpted Eggs, Palm Springs Pools & Pop-Up Studios

Global art juggernaut Affordable Art Fair returns to Melbourne for a sixth outing this August, showcasing thousands of original works priced from $100 to $10,000 – all available to purchase and take home on the day.

The show brings together more than 70 Australian and international galleries repping a huge range of makers, says Australian fair director Georgia Huestis. “You might find something from an artist who’s been in the Archibald Prize, or you might find an artwork in our Discover Young Talent section from someone who’s exhibiting for the first time.”

The lucky dip element is designed to make contemporary art accessible and approachable, Huestis says. Visitors can connect and chat directly with gallerists and artists – and first-time purchasers are especially encouraged.

On top of the buying opportunities, there’s plenty going on to make the fair a proper day out. We asked Huestis to talk us through her top five must-sees.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Diego’s Oasis interactive art shop

Diego Faivre is a French artist who’s shown at our fairs internationally – he creates using air-dry clay. This a little whimsical world within the fair where he’ll be sculpting flowers and also he’s quite well known for doing these sunny-side-up eggs. It’s part installation, part performance and part shop, because everything’s for sale. He’s pitching it as a bit of a roadside stop where you can come in and buy a flower or an egg.

Artist in Action pop-up studios

We’ve invited 10 artists to bring in a makeshift studio to the fair. So visitors get a rare chance to step inside the creative process and meet the artists and watch the artworks come to life – and typically those artworks are also for sale. I’m particularly excited for Nilraya Bundasak, a Thai-born, Melbourne-based textile artist who uses thread and colour in a painterly way. Then we have Chloe Blythman – she creates really quirky maps that have heaps of personality, and she’ll be creating a series of Melbourne maps at the fair.

Chris Riley’s Blue Sky World

Chris Riley is a Gold Coast artist. When he came to our fair last time, lots of people said his work was like stepping into a painting because he does these huge hyperreal paintings of pool scenes. Very Palm Springs – they’ll often have a pink lounge chair or a bird, and they’re very bright, positive works. So Blue Sky World is an immersive space with palm-tree sculptures and breeze blocks and lounge chairs. It will all be adorned with his paintings, and you’ll be able to have photo opportunities as if you are right in front of a pool on the banana lounge. A bit of Queensland to brighten up our Melbourne winter.

Kaleidoscope Studio kids’ art workshop

Claudio Kirac has created Kaleidoscope Studio, where children can come in and play and have fun. It’s also right next to a cafe, so it’s a good pitstop for the whole family! Claudio’s created a mural for us – it’s the backdrop to a children’s art studio where we’ve got tables and face painting and worksheets, and he’ll do a workshop on the weekend, too. His motifs are all suns and butterflies and flowers, so it’s just super fun. It’s also a reminder that you can bring the family for a proper day out. A lot of our exhibitors are parents and are happy to have your children running around the fair. It doesn’t feel precious.

Discover Young Talent exhibition

Every year we host an exhibition of artists under 35 years old, and it gives visitors the opportunity to support an artist who hasn’t found a commercial platform yet. This year we’re showcasing seven emerging artists from across Australia: Anna Xiang, Ashton Wastney, Ariella Weinmann, Carley Olifiers, Georgia Robinson, Millie Hopton and Rufus Punton. The key thing is that they’re selling their artwork. They might have come from a grad show, or they might have had a few opportunities, but this is a real rush for an artist. It can be career-changing.

Affordable Art Fair Melbourne runs from August 27 to 30 at the Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton. Broadsheet subscribers can score complimentary tickets via Access – log in or join now from $1 per week.