The international art calendar for 2024 has launched with the opening of the London Art Fair, founded in 1989 by London’s Business Design Centre in Islington.

You will find an exceptional line-up of over 120 Modern and Contemporary Art galleries around the world including Japan, Turkey, Lithuania and South Korea.

Be sure to look through their Talks and Performances programme which will explore themes within the curated sections of the fair. They are free to attend with your fair ticket.The Main Hall features some of the world’s most renowned artists across a variety of media from artists including Francis Bacon, Andy Warhol, Bridget Riley and David Hockney.

The Platform section of the fair brings together art that shines a light on Queer love and life. At a time when LGBTQIA+ life is increasingly under threat in the UK and globally this aims to reflect the resilience, beauty, and passion of queer love.

The photomontage work of Ghada Khunji presented by Janet Rady (stand P4) was particularly striking. Her poses are recreated from Frida Kahlo’s iconic self-portraits. Ghada gives insight into her own relationship to her body and restrictions imposed on it by gender, heritage, class and the tension between East and West

For the first time this year a dedicated Prints and Editions section is being introduced, featuring galleries focusing on limited editions. The fair is attempting to serve every profile of visitor and this section containing affordable works should be a good entry point for young art lovers. Exhibitor Flux Projects was co-founded by a photographer and royal ballet dancer Their display Photographs of Movement showcases photography that explores and evokes movement. Several, of their artists such as Anouk Jouanne, Genevieve Reeves and Isabelle Wenzel, are themselves trained dancers or acrobats working with photography

The Photo 50 portion of the fair is not just pure photography but examines current photographic practice as well as featuring a theme of The Land and the Artist. The standout work was Eugenie Shinkle’s work, Ideal City comprising of four 2.5’ x 5’panels created by sewing 35mm contact prints together.

For the second year the Encounters section returns and continues to support emerging and international galleries often focusing on an individual artist. There was a lot of unexpected art here and is a section I recommend spending time to explore. It is located through the main hall and off to the right. The themes are diverse and thought provoking. Of note and not to be missed is the work of Juliana Sicoli  Still I Speak (at Ricardo Fernandes Gallery, (stand E4) This work draws on the archives of female patients that were sent to Psychiatric wards for no other reason than refusing to marry or by exercising their sexual freedom. While in these wards the patients wrote letters to their families which were never sent and were only recently released in 2021 when the hospital closed. In her works she has stitched excerpts of the words of these women over faint images of their faces finally giving them a voice.

Siger Gallery  (stand E7) showcases artists who transform an unusual array of objects. Guillermo Monroy, a Mexican artist has a crucifixion piece constructed from defunct musical instruments. Susana Sanroman’s Chrysalis, a photographic print is striking and was born of her severe anxiety disorder she suffered with for five years.

Both galleries are hosting live performances by their artists on Thursday. I predict both events to be highlights of the fair.

From emerging talents to established names, the fair celebrates the dynamic evolution of the art scene. However, some may find the sheer volume of exhibits overwhelming but overall the art fair is a compelling event for art enthusiasts seeking inspiration and a glimpse into today’s landscape of contemporary and modern art.

Date: 17- 21 January 2024. Location: The Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street Islington London N1 0QH. Price: from £20.59. Book now.

Words by Natascha Milsom