Four women art dealers have decided to bring a niche art fair to Aldeburgh this June to celebrate the artists of East Anglia past and present, alongside other Modern British artists of note.
A chance meeting at the Saatchi Galleries between Tom Brent, the designer of the new Ballroom Arts complex in Aldeburgh – a stunning converted building on Aldeburgh High Street – and one of the exhibitors gave life to the idea and the collaboration quickly grew.
Stepping away from the huge art fairs in London, established art dealers Anna Wakerley, Emma Judd, Belinda Allen Agar and Sally Patrick, each with strong links to the area are keen to showcase the strength and depth of native East Anglian painters, printmakers and sculptors, by exhibiting a wide variety of works in various genres.
The event coincides with the Aldeburgh Festival, the English arts festival held at Snape Maltings which is devoted to classical music and founded in 1948 by the composer Benjamin Britton (an avid collector of Modern British art himself) and the singer Peter Pears.
The art fair will feature works by artists associated with the heyday of the Benton End School in Suffolk, with the Great Bardfield group of artists in Essex and with Colchester School of Art, right up to the
current day.
The exhibitors will also be flying the flag for a selection of women artists from the area who are now receiving well deserved recognition. You can look forward to seeing names like Maggi Hambling, Margaret Mellis, Mary Fedden, Prunella Clough and Wilhelmina Barns Graham alongside John Nash, Keith Vaughan, Edward Bawden and Terry Frost. Contemporary works and sculpture will also be on show.
All artworks will be for sale with prices ranging from about £250 to £7000.
The Aldeburgh Art Fair will open at 2pm – 7pm on Thursday 22nd June
Thereafter, opening times will be 10.30am – 5pm Fri 23rd to Tues 27th June https://ballroomarts.org