StART has announced the first details of its 2024 programme which will be showcased at new venue, the Town Hall in King’s Cross, London. The innovative global art fair is relocating to an iconic new space in London’s world-renowned creative and technology hub, Kings Cross-St Pancras – the vibrant district for innovative talent, now known simply as KX. The move heralds a bold new era of expansion for StART and which will present leading and emerging artists and curated spaces, showcased in this atmospheric and versatile new Central London location during October’s Frieze Week.
A celebration of art and creativity
The first edition of StART in its new home promises to be an uplifting experience that truly celebrates art and creativity allowing visitors to get to know what is behind the creative drive of the exhibitors, what makes them tick, and how their work relates to the overarching themes of the zeitgeist.
Philip and Charlotte Colbert
The 2024 programme highlights include Pop artist Philip Colbert and artist and filmmaker Charlotte Colbert who will each present their large scale iconic symbols in the Town Hall’s grand ballroom. Charlotte, described as the lovechild between Emily Dickinson and Salvador Dali and Philip, dubbed the Godson of Andy Warhol, will have their respective Eye and Lobster symbols filling the stage. In addition they will present a selection of derivative and affordable editions and artworks.
Piers Secunda, who is best known for his work examining the destruction of culture, has been working for several months on a series of ink paintings, which portray sunlight shining through smoke in the jungle. The ink he is using for these paintings has been produced from charcoal gathered by UK charity Migrate Art, from illegal fires set by farmers and loggers in the Amazon rainforest. The works are being sold to raise money for the tribal leaders of the Xingu Reserve in the Brazilian Amazon, who need fire- fighting equipment to put out the fires the reserve.
Objects that shape our cultural history
In a world exclusive, photographer Rick Guest will unveil his collection Holy Relics. Shot with exceptional technique, these high-resolution large format fine art prints showcase objects that have profoundly shaped our collective cultural history. From Lord Byron’s dip pen to Ernest Hemingway’s first typewriter, Charles Darwin’s walking cane to Sir Peter Blake’s iconic hand-painted bass drumskin used on the front cover of the Beatles’ ground-breaking 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Guest’s portfolio presents these storied objects with the reverence they deserve. The collection features the gun used to assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand to the last microphone Amy Winehouse ever recorded on, moon dust from Apollo 11, Sir Paul McCartney’s Hofner bass, Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here mastertape, and the pens and quills of Charles Dickens and TS Elliot.
Other highlights include the debut of Alex Mayhew’s Bowie Bots, photography and sculpture from Wells Tempest and Rita Nowak, photography by Graeme Messer, new textile-based mural work by South African artist and photographer Justin Dingwall and sculpture from Sam Shendi. US artists making their London debut at the event include. photographer David Aimone and Vegas based artist Matt Samson who produces his signature works using meteorite dust.
StART after Dark
Also announced is StART after dark, an exciting new addition to StART in the form of a week-long program of evening events fusing art and music, featuring live performances from an eclectic selection of bands.
StART – 7-13 October 2024, Town Hall KX
London, WC1H 9AU. www.startkx.com
