The Death of a Disco Dancer, Well It Happens a Lot ’round Here. . . (All Photos By Gail)
Time flies when you don’t know what you’re doing. Finally, here we are with my always amazing and fun photo recap of the Fall 2024 Affordable Art Fair which was, as usual, completely rad. Without further introductions being necessary, let’s immerse ourselves in recapping all — or most — of my favorite art from the fair! Art!
The Literal Elephant in the Room: Subliminal Power By Danie Herard and Manju Shandler of Arts Gowanus
Donut Art By Eka Peradze, at Fremin Gallery, NYC
Like an array of delicious donuts that cannot be resisted, the Affordable Art Fair gathers a vast selection of the very best contemporary art available globally — all in one place — creating a visual feast for art lovers. If you weren’t able to attend in person, keep in mind that many of these works can still be purchased from their representative galleries!
Michael Gitter, Hearts $750 at Fremin Gallery, NYC
If you’re looking for a colorful statement piece that won’t take up much space and can be easily moved from room to room — just to change things up — Michael Gitter’s rainbow-hued Hearts sculpture would be an excellent choice!
As fans of toys, cartoons and action figures throughout their lives, the artist duo of Michael Janis and Tony Porto (AKA Janis-Porto) create artworks that can be both functional and decorative from repurposed toys and memorabilia, and they are real showstoppers. Above, you can see a selection of their pop culture lamp assemblages that would be the focal point of any room and one-of-a kind collectors items to boot!
Also by Janis-Porto is this fab tribute to Din Grogu, colloquially referred to as Baby Yoda, trimmed with green fake fur for a non-stop conversation starter that you can hang on your wall! These artists are represented by Alida Anderson Projects of Washington DC, but you can follow them on Instagram here.
Also at the Alida Anderson booth we had to say hi to Lenny Campello, one of our favorite artists who is a master of creating small-scale pop culture portraits on unfired ceramic shards. Pictured above is our President, Joe Biden During his Elvis Period, a steal at just $75! Joe is now sharing space on my home office wall next to This Guy.
Always collectable are Betsy Enzensberger’s Original Melting Pops resin sculptures, whose price points start at just $250! Find her at Treat Gallery of NYC and on Instagram.
Here’s a piece that certainly encourages imaginative extrapolation: Nadador by Emilia Cunliffe. Just $2,400 at Da Silva Gallery/ Gallerylabs of New Haven, CT.
Looking to add some fun, abstract sculptures to your collection? The Affordable Art Fair has a seemingly endless selection of unique pieces you won’t see anywhere else. How about TV ($3,750) a pop art interpretation of a TV Set by artist Ammity Rose? Spotted at Gallery VII.
Also fun and funky is Over The Moon (2024) by Natalia Koren Kropf, priced at $12,000 at Artios Gallery. Kropf’s art is on the walls in the background as well. Clearly, she is quite talented.
If you love art that is irresistibly cute, may I present for your consideration: Boy Straddling Elephant (2024) by Japanese artist Yasuhito Kawasaki and available from Fucean Gallery of Shanghai. Oh, the cuteness.
If you have $12,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you can own Balloon and Chair by Kangok Jeon, who is represented by Able Fine Art of NYC.
Does your home need a Lion statue as a kind of formal sentry? Whose doesn’t! How about Le Lion Solitaire by artist Zut (AKA Julie Touchette)? Just $8,875 at Arteria Gallery of Canada.
Neon Flame is a unique piece by Carola Orieta-Sperman that sells for $5,200 at Contemporary Art Gallery of Miami and NYC. It’s really a spectacular find and very reasonably priced for something so special. I hope it found a good home.
Be careful not to crack a molar on Oreos (2024), a sculpture by Chris Mitton, carved from Carraro marble and signed by the artist. It can be yours for $11,995, from TAG Fine Arts of London.
Let’s check out some paintings and art meant for the walls! Here’s something everyone loves: Popcorn (2024) by Neil Carroll is priced to sell at $680 from TAG Fine Arts. Love that frame-within-a-frame presentation!
Look at this fabulous textured paint application technique used to depict the sun burning through the clouds in She Makes Everything Brighter by Karina Guerrero. It’s priced at $3,600 from Hudson River Art Collective.
Also at Alida Anderson, I loved Dora Patin’s Hi Beautiful ($3,000), a tribute to Barbie as portrayed by Margot Robbie in the 2023 film. Because Barbie never ages!
If you’re a fan of whimsical images and bright colors, check out Cordelia by latinx artist Mycha, priced at just $980. Mycha notes on her instagram that this painting was completed in just one session!
It’s a challenge to choose a favorite among these realist still lifes by Lori Larusso. Small paintings like these sell for $650 to $950 from JJ Contemporary Art Gallery, but you can see more of her fabulous work on her Instagram.
For me, it does not get much better than the paintings of surrealist Cristina Vergano, whose playful sense of humor comes through in works like Chatty Pear Tree ($4,800).
I always admire the way she adds value to a painting like Red Balls ($1,800 ) with a creative custom frame. Cristina is represented by Leonard Tourne Gallery of NYC.
The very pop-culture-centric style of artist Srinjoy is instantly recognizable in his Balloon Dog ($10,000) which combines iconic images from the worlds of art, music, film and beyond. This artist is represented by Connect Contemporary Gallery of Atlanta, where he lives.
This piece, entitled Relax ($6,600) by Henrik Abelian is a digital composite image with neon embellishment for added functionality, and it’s lots of fun. Find this and his other works at Connect Contemporary Gallery.
It’s no secret that I think it’s super lazy when artists leave their works Untitled ( seriously it’s like not naming your children, ffs) but I’m giving Xavi Carbonell a pass because this piece reminds of one of my favorite pop artists and cartoonists, Elliott Cowan. This colorful work is just $2,050 at Art Angler of NYC.
Meet abstract painter Phillip Michaels , seen here posing next to one of his large canvases (Forgetting Your Own Technique, $11,500) which looks 1000 times more gorgeous in person than it does in a shitty iPhone photo. Besides being friendly, handsome and talented, Phillip is a self-represented artist based in NYC! See more of his work and read more about him here.
Are you feeling like this recap does not have enough pink art in it? I feel similarly, so let me show you this: Samantha McCubbin’s Dripping Petals. Bold yet understated, it’s just $1,225 at UK-based Carina Haslem Gallery.
Images of the Pink Panther, are always fun, and this somewhat abstract interpretation by artist Rabbhead is entitled Pink Virtuoso, which keeps things interesting. Pick it up from Lurie Gallery for $3,200.
And that’s all we have time for! I hope you will agree it was worth the wait. Thank you, Affordable Art Fair for the inspiration and see you again in the Spring!
(**Lead Image: Quelle Fête Muffin (What a Muffin Party) Melted Disco Ball By Rotganzen spotted at NYC’s Fremin Gallery, $12,000).