Summer's warmth brings with it a bustling season for the art world, where outdoor settings and vibrant atmospheres set the stage for some of the most anticipated art fairs of the year. For galleries, these summertime gatherings are more than just exhibitions; they're bustling hubs for promoting artists and cultivating relationships with collectors. As we delve into the most anticipated art fairs of summer 2024, we step into a realm where creativity thrives under the sun, and where the art market pulses with energy and excitement.
Artmonte-Carlo
July 6-7, in Monaco
The Grimaldi Forum where artmonte-carlo will be held, Source: Quotidien de l’Art
Founded in 2016 by Thomas Hug, artmonte-carlo is the sister art fair to artgeneve, also founded by Hug in 2012. In the spirit of artgenève, artmonte-carlo stands out with a sharp selection of leading international galleries revealed within a carefully curated scenography and greatly enhanced by a program of special exhibitions, thus fostering dialogue between the market world and the institutional milieu. The intention is to establish on the French Riviera a high-quality artistic event, thus honoring the demands of the numerous collectors and art enthusiasts in the region.
This year marks artmonte-carlo’s 8th edition, occurring the weekend of the 6th and 7th of July. The fair will take place in the usual Grimaldi Forum of Monaco, under the high patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco. It will welcome 35 leading international galleries of modern and contemporary art in an elegant atmosphere with careful scenography. Taking place in a refined and intimate setting, artmonte-carlo reflects the image of the Principality: pleasant and with international radiance.
Art3f Monaco
August 23-25, in Monaco
Art3f Monaco, 2019, Source : Art3f
Founded in 2012 by Serge Bennica, the current director, art3f positions itself as an affordable contemporary art fair with the goal of making art collecting more accessible and casual. With events held across 20 different European cities , Art3f aims to provide a platform for both established and emerging artists, welcoming art enthusiasts of all backgrounds. The fair fosters a warm and relaxed atmosphere, showcasing a diverse range of artistic styles from abstract to street art, pop art, and performances, inviting visitors to explore and engage with art in an open-minded way.
Art3f offers a unique opportunity for meaningful exchanges between artists, galleries, and the public, breaking from the conventions of traditional art fairs. With its inviting ambiance, culinary offerings, and family-friendly activities, Art3f creates a welcoming environment where visitors can discover art that resonates with them, whether they are seasoned collectors or first-time buyers looking to introduce their children to the world of art.
From August 23rd to the 25th, art3f Monaco will celebrate its 5th edition at the Chapiteau de Fontvieille. The lineup includes over 200 artists and galleries from around the world, showcasing over 3500 works on sale, ranging from paintings and sculptures to photographs.
VOLTA New York
September 4-8, in New York
VOLTA New York, 2023, Source : VOLTA
VOLTA made its debut in Basel in 2005, and held its first New York fair in 2008. Now, a renowned contemporary art fair, VOLTA invites enthusiasts and collectors to immerse themselves in the Art of Now. With galleries showcasing work reflecting the current world, this art fair encourages embracing fresh perspectives and engaging with compelling narratives from around the globe.
Committed to fostering intimate connections, VOLTA provides a platform for enterprising galleries to thrive in major art market cities. With its 19-year legacy, VOLTA offers collectors a unique opportunity to explore and invest in powerful artworks that resonate with today’s zeitgeist, making it an important art fair not to miss.
This year marks the 16th edition of Volta New York, occurring from September 4th to the 8th. The fair will showcase over 300 distinguished galleries in the brand new venue : Chelsea Industrial, situated in the Chelsea district of Manhattan.
Viennacontemporary
September 12-15, in Vienna
Viennacontemporary, 2023, Source : Viennacontemporary
Born out of VIENNAFAIR in 2015, Viennacontemporary quickly established itself as the leading contemporary art fair in Austria. The fair aims to showcase both emerging and established contemporary art from Central and Eastern Europe alongside Austrian and international galleries. Accompanied by a series of collaborative events with Austrian museums and art institutions, the fair aims to bolster Vienna's status as a hub for contemporary art and culture. With its focus on promoting diversity and innovation, Viennacontemporary attracts thousands of visitors annually, including professionals, artists, collectors, and visionaries, offering a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge trends and engage in international encounters within the vibrant art world.
Viennacontemporary consists of three sections, featuring curated exhibitions and thematic focuses. ZONE1 highlights emerging Austrian talent with solo exhibitions curated by Bruno Mokross, exploring the influence of Vienna's environment on artists' work. The annual content focus, STATEMENT, addresses pressing social issues; in 2024, it centers on the theme of Energy, fostering dialogue on sustainability through art. A new addition, CONTEXT, showcases individual presentations by Central and Eastern European artists from the late 20th century, emphasizing the region's cultural history and its relevance to contemporary art.
This year’s edition will be held from September 12th to the 15th in the spacious Halle D of Messe Wien.
The Lyon Biennale of Contemporary Art
September 29 - January 05, in Lyon
The Lyon Biennale, 2019, Source : France Info
The Lyon Biennale of Contemporary Art is an art fair founded in 1991 by Thierry Raspail and Thierry Prat, occurring biennially in odd-numbered years alongside the Lyon Dance Biennale established in 1984. The event was initially led by Thierry Raspail, who was also the director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Lyon (MAC Lyon) until his retirement in 2018. Artistic direction then passed to Isabelle Bertolotti. Following the discontinuation of the Paris Biennale in the 1980s, Lyon's Biennale emerged as France's foremost contemporary art event. Managed by the "Biennale de Lyon" association, the fair focuses on supporting artistic creation by allocating a significant portion of its budget each year to producing new artworks, both in dance and the visual arts, while also prioritizing audience artistic education through mediation initiatives. Additionally, the Biennale contributes to France's international prominence, particularly for Lyon and its region, attracting numerous foreign professionals and generating substantial media coverage, thereby enhancing the economic attractiveness of its host region.
This September 29th will mark the beginning of its 17th edition which will last all the way to the 5th of January 2024. Titled "Crossing the Water," this edition of the Biennale invites over 75 artists to explore and question the relationships formed and dissolved among individuals and their environment. Leveraging the natural and human geography of the territory, as well as the Biennale venues like the Grandes Locos and the International City of Gastronomy as well as the MAC Lyon, the project delves into themes of diversity and community practices/ The artworks selected showcase an opportunity for discovery and life's richness, symbolized by the stories carried by rivers and waterways, embodying a spectrum of relationships from confrontation to convergence.
What are you waiting for ?
After a year full of innovative art events, the summer of 2024 appears to continue in that spirit. The future for the art fair community seems more promising now more than ever. Which fairs will you attend this summer? What are the key elements that attract you to a specific art fair? Take advantage of the opportunity to prepare your gallery's participation for the next fair!