After Covid-19 caused the fair scheduled for March to be postponed, the five-day event will see 41 galleries from throughout New Zealand, Australia and the Cook Islands present works by more than 180 artists.
The last Art Fair, held in February 2021, generated more than $NZ10 million in art sales, all of which went to the participating galleries and their artists.
This year, MiNDFOOD Editor-in-Chief and artist Michael McHugh will be presenting work as part of Föenander Galleries’ presentation.
“My paintings for the Auckland Art Fair are in many ways a continuation of the main themes of deconstructed DNA from natural organic shapes,” he explains.
“Mixed with marine and plant-like forms, where colour, shape and detail come together suggests nothing is real but potentially everything could be.
“From detailed cellular structures to bright painterly colour these new plant-like forms float and fall through the atmosphere, as your eye travels around the canvas, losing yourself in a new world.”
The 2022 Art Fair will be McHugh’s first time attending the event. “I am looking forward to seeing Roger Mortimer’s work from Föenander Galleries and also Laura Williams’ work from Laree Payne Gallery, both artists’ work I haven’t seen before,” he says.
“I’m also looking forward to seeing Atong Atem from Mars Gallery, and beautiful ceramic pieces from Ara Dolatian at the Scott Lawrie Gallery. I follow these artists on Instagram but there is nothing like actually seeing the work in real life.”
There will be a wide range of artworks on show at this year’s event, from painting and photography to moving image and sculpture.
An outdoor Sculpture Space will feature at the Waitematā Harbour end of The Cloud, where visitors can enjoy large-scale sculpture works while enjoying a drink and a bite to eat.
Sculptures by Simon Lewis Wards, Monique Lacey, Paul Dibble, Gregor Kregar, Semisi Fetokai Potauaine and Nathan Hull will be on display.
Another feature of the 2022 Art Fair is He Iti, the home for artist-run spaces on the Mezzanine of The Cloud.
Here, Hoea! Gallery – which gifted the name He Iti to the fair – will be joined by The Den and mothermother, along with three new galleries from Melbourne; Futures, Haydens and Discordia.
Visitors will also have access to a number of pop-up bars and delicious eateries at The Cloud during the Fair.
Aotearoa Art Fair
16-20 November
The Cloud
Queen’s Wharf
Auckland
