I love the Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair! Where else can you go to mix with internationally recognised artists like Sir Peter Blake, Gavin Turk, Polly Morgan, Tracey Emin, Bob and Roberta Smith, Darren Coffield, Ben Eine and Matt Collishaw and buy their original artwork for a fraction of the price that galleries charge. Most of the work has been specially commissioned for the fair which gives entry level collectors the only real affordable option to buy great art by well known artists. The fair also has a number of young and emerging artists selling their wares. Some of these will be the future YBAs mark II, so look and use your eyes!
Taking a quintessentially British concept and turning it on its head, the Fair is famous for being the day the art world lets its hair down, coming together to fill the car park with an alternative take on a Sunday afternoon fete. The Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair founder and curator, Karen Ashton,(see top photo) is again taking the fair on the road, this time to Margate, 30th August. Participation as an artist in the Art Car Boot Fair is by invitation only. There is no pitch fee and no transaction with the organisers. “We work with well-known and up and coming artists who all buy into the idea of making their work accessible to a wide audience on the day;”Karen the organiser tells us. The event now features a line-up of over 70 artists. The event is at once cool, stylish, eccentric and bursting with incredible art bargains.
This year’s boot fair was dog themed and everyone was asked to take along their pooch to join the fun!
Sir Peter Blake at the Art Car Boot 2015
Gavin Turk redefines the meaning of ‘oil on canvas’!
Bob and Roberta Smith ‘Sign of the Times’!
Darren Coffield A true Hoxton native in his natural habitat!
Pam Hogg shows a fan a good time!
Emerging artist Gillian Swan shows off her Hackney property portfolio!
Lots of rising dog stars were also in attendance!
Words/Photos P C Robinson© Artlyst 2015