The Moniker Art Fair will return to London during Frieze Week for their fourth year, having firmly established themselves as one of the capital’s best alternative events for contemporary art, with its roots embedded in urban culture.
Building on the foundations of three years’ experience and innovation, 2013 sees Moniker Art Fair take another ground-breaking step by venue-sharing with London’s leading artist-led fair – The Other Art Fair – in what will be a showcase of independent and established talent all under one roof in East London’s iconic Old Truman Brewery.
This exciting spectacle will attract 10,000-plus visitors to the capital’s East End, forming one of the major satellite events of London’s Art Week when 60,000 visitors descend on the city to form an unparalleled international art audience. The new partnership emphasizes both fairs formidable reputations for showcasing artists operating under the radar of the traditional art establishment. Over a period of four days and across 21,000 Sq feet in The Old Truman Brewery’s impressive interior, this compelling combination promises to generate much interest and exposure this coming October.
Moniker attracts some of the most renowned and talked about artists, galleries and curators from an increasingly diverse contemporary art movement, forged by its subversive and innovative spirit. Over four days Moniker shines a spotlight on a generation of artists influenced by the urban environment and its related subcultures, showcasing established and emerging artists along with a creative programme of events including live painting, talks, tours, film screenings and exclusive art releases.
For the first time, MONIKER ART FAIR will be sharing its exhibition space with London’s leading artist-led fair – The Other Art Fair. Together they will form a major destination during London’s Autumn art week, showcasing a cross-section of artists to challenge the traditional art establishment. Working with sixteen galleries, MONIKER ART FAIR will build on its growing reputation as a focal point for collectors, galleries, artists and enthusiasts to explore and discuss the multi-disciplinary art forms represented. Galleries confirmed for 2013 include London-based STOLEN SPACE, who represent celebrated artists D*Face and Shepard Fairey, Netherlands LOOK FOR ART who will bring the much-admired duo The London Police back to UK shores, and HANG UP GALLERY who will sell works including secondary market Banksy works.
As ever, Moniker will retain its experiential focus, in contrast to the traditional art fair format. Trademark ‘artist project spaces’ – now a common feature of art fairs across the globe – will once again punctuate the fair, with politically charged artist Beejoir set to recreate an Apocalypse Now-style bunker to house various works, London-based artists Jo Peel and David Shillinglaw both creating site-specific installations, and world-renowned 3D street painter Leon Keer producing one of his painstaking and perspective-defying artworks in nearby Ely’s Yard. JEALOUS PRINT STUDIOS return again to host live screen printing, with limited edition prints and affordable editions created and signed by artists on site, whilst ALTERNATIVE LONDON will lead street art tours of the surrounding area and fair walk-throughs with their resident experts. To supplement the artworks and installations, Moniker will present a series of topical talks, discussions and screenings, with artists, curators and gallerists invited to discuss and debate the burning issues and main talking points currently facing the movement. Since its inaugural year in 2010, Moniker has championed numerous artists who have gone on to become key players in the contemporary art world , including the likes of Ben Eine, Herakut, and Polly Morgan. This next edition of MONIKER ART FAIR promises to cement its reputation as a leading, taste-making and opinion-forming touchstone in the annual art calendar.
Photo: © Artlyst 2012
Moniker and The Other Art Fair Takes Place 17 – 20 October Old Truman Brewery