TOAF: New Ventures

TOAF: New Ventures

In an increasingly saturated digital world, it becomes difficult for new artists to get ahead. Providing a solution and new platform, The Other Art Fair’s Bristol edition is an international place for emerging creatives to showcase their works from across the UK and further afield. Practitioners from Finland, Portugal, USA, France, Spain, Germany and Italy offer a diverse range of approaches, including photography, stencilling, painting, sculpture, mixed media, ceramics and street art.

Responding to the fact that work by female artists makes up only 3–5% of major permanent collections in the US and Europe, this year’s edition of TOAF Bristol addresses key issues of representation in the arts industry. As fair manager Jessica Chow notes: “We are excited to have 64% female artists this year – furthering our ambition of giving women greater opportunities to showcase their talents.”

For example, visitors are welcomed by a colourful, large-scale installation by Austalian born, Bristol based artist Anna Higgie. The illustrator creates public murals that combine bright hues with playful shapes, conveying a sense of joy and optimism. In a similar style, patterns by textile designer Annie Clay are also featured. The practitioner creates commercial prints for clothing, accessories homeware and stationary.

Other highlights include a limited edition print acclaimed British artist and author Harland Miller (b. 1964), who is known for a series of large scale, photo realistic paintings and posters of vintage Penguin book covers, which feature in photographer Miles Aldridge’s (b. 1964) compositions.

Previous editions of TOAF this year have featured Carolina Mizrahi (b. 1982), cover photographer for the current issue of Aesthetica. Her work explores images of women in advertising, using bright colours and surreal compositions to tap into notions of artificiality whilst combining playful, highly curated scenes with a socially engaged ethos.

At the Passenger Shed, Bristol, from 26-29 July. Find out more here.

Credits:
1. Roberto Vámos, The Shadow.