Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair is at the forefront of innovative programming for print enthusiasts and collectors alike with the October 2023 edition boasting exclusive print launches from Eliza Hopewell and Nick Smith as well as the launch of a charity partnership with United in Design and a collaboration with art and comedy collective Art Laughs.
Visit the Fair via the Elizabeth Line in just 20 mins
Europe’s largest art fair dedicated to highly collectible print works, the Fair continues to be the pioneer in the world of contemporary original print, pushing the boundaries of this diverse medium and situating it within the wider context of contemporary art. Located at historic Royal Arsenal, now easily accessible in just 20 minutes from Central London via the Elizabeth Line, WCPF is the largest international fair entirely devoted to highly collectible contemporary print. This year marks the eighth edition of the Fair, offering visitors the opportunity to explore, discover, and collect the very best in international contemporary original print from over 500 artists and leading galleries at London’s latest landmark creative destination.
Eliza Hopewell – One to Watch
Rhodes Contemporary will host a meet and greet with artist Eliza Hopewell in promotion of an exclusive etching for The New Collectors evening. With commissions from companies and institutions such as Soho house, Bella Freud and the Tate, Eliza Hopewell is a promising emerging artist cantering her practice around the interior and exterior worlds of women. Hopewell’s portfolio encompasses painting, printmaking and furniture which she has exhibited with galleries including FELT and Hauser & Wirth. Art historian, writer and broadcaster, Katy Hessel selected Hopewell for the Great Women Artists residency 2022 at Palazzo Monti.
Nick Smith – A Cult Following
Rhodes Contemporary will also launch an exclusive print from contemporary artist Nick Smith inspired by Cézanne’s ‘The Bathers’. Smith is known for his signature boundary pushing pixelated works, combining text and image in a unique blend of colour-chips and collages. With a background in interior design and an interest in delving into art-historical concepts, Smith has developed a truly unique voice in the contemporary art world encouraging a cult following which saw his recent 75 edition print release ‘Nike Banned Jordan’ sell out within one minute.
Bonhams will launch ‘Who Cares Wins’ by Harland Miller, a writer and artist inspired by pop art, abstraction and books. Known for his iconic reworkings of Penguin dust jackets, Miller’s work draws attention to the inherent possibilities of language within the visual field, employing humour, irony and emotion to explore the formal qualities of painting and the complexities of language. Miller’s most recent works employ saturated colours and mono or bisyllabic words such as ‘Luv’.
Among this year’s exclusive launches will be ‘In Love With You by David Spiller, via TAG Fine Arts. Spiller is an urban artist appropriating concepts from popular culture and childhood memories. He blends styles by mixing the hard-hitting immediacy of Pop Art, with bold colours, punchy texts and clean lines, alongside expressionistic painting and hard-edged abstraction. To these striking images he adds another layer of informal freehand texts and drawings including characters and motifs, combining these elements with evocative lines from his favourite songs. With all of this information and emotion Spiller constructs a canvas or print that uniquely combines all of these elements.
The Fair is launching a partnership launch with United in Design, unveiling an important new annual fair initiative. United in Design’s ongoing mission is to offer an equal opportunity pathway for entry into the Interior Design industry for people from Black, Asian, ethnic minority and socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. They will be showcasing an exclusive booth, designed and presented by emerging interior design talent Yeji Son.
The Dam Will Not Build Itself
Lastly, David Shrigley needs no introduction, having cemented himself as a beloved and highly collectable printmaker. His annual release at Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair via Shoreditch locals Jealous traditionally prompts queues around the block. All buyers from the Fair will also be automatically entered into a prize draw and one lucky winner will get a free David Shrigley artwork!
Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, 26-29 October 2023
Woolwich Works, The Fireworks Factory, Royal Arsenal London SE18 6HD
The Online Edition 26 October – 05 November
@woolwichcontemporaryprintfair |www.woolwichprintfair.com
