Somerset House Organizes First Contemporary Graphic Art Fair in the UK
LONDON.- Somerset House will present Pick Me Up, the first contemporary graphic art fair in the UK. The fair will bring together a selection of the most innovative galleries, collectives and designers under one roof, and showcase affordable work by the world’s most cutting-edge graphic designers and illustrators. Work by some of the best known names in the industry will be for sale as well as exclusive limited edition art work from the most exciting emerging artists. These works will be presented alongside a unique programme of events and live performances, including an open studio with celebrated designer Rob Ryan.
- Rob Ryan, “We Don’t Fly North”, 2008. Papercut, paper, 100 x 61 cm
Conceived as a celebration of graphic arts, the fair will take place in The Embankment Galleries of Somerset House. The fair will include an exhibition of work by the best up-and-coming international graphic designers and illustrators handpicked by industry insiders. Somerset House will commission each artist to create a limited-edition print for the show. These exclusive works will be available for sale at the fair as well as on the Somerset House website.
Paper designer and artist Rob Ryan will host an open studio throughout the entire run of the fair, installing his paper cutting studio and printing presses from his studio in East London so that visitors can follow the entire process of the creation of Ryan’s prints. As well as working on his own prints, Ryan will invite guest designers such as Anthony Burrill to make new work for visitors to see and buy and be involved in making.
Avant-garde art and design collectives and galleries, including Concrete Hermit, Le Gun, Nobrow and Peepshow will set up shop at Somerset House and participate in an alternative trade fair, selling specially commissioned work. The space will include screen-printing workshops run by Print Club London with invited guest designers drawn from the great and the good of the graphic design world, and a programme of film screenings curated by It’s Nice That. With graphic prints, drawings as well as T-shirts and fanzines on sale, there will be something for everyone.
Pick Me Up will also present a talks and events programme, which will include discussions, lectures and family events. On the final weekend Publish and Be Damned will bring their annual independent publishing fair to Pick Me Up with a selection of the best international magazines and fanzines for sale.
Claire Catterall, Somerset House Embankment Galleries Curator, said: “Pick Me Up will for the first time ever bring together affordable graphic art by the best international graphic artists and designers available to buy at a major central London venue.”
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