Auckland Art Fair is pleased to announce that more than NZ$10 million worth of art was sold by 38 galleries at the 2021 Art Fair, exceeding sales in previous years by $1million.
Proceeds of the art sold go entirely to the artists and their galleries, making the Fair a significant cultural and economic event for visual arts in Aotearoa, especially at a time when artists and galleries have been impacted by recent global events.
More than 7000 visitors attended the Fair from all over New Zealand, to view and celebrate the outstanding contemporary art of Aotearoa and the Pacific Rim region. The 2021 Auckland Art Fair was one of the first Art Fairs to take place anywhere in the world since COVID-19 took hold last year.
“With almost every other international Art Fair in the world cancelled, including the 2020 Auckland Art Fair, it was a privilege to hold a live Art Fair in 2021 and we are delighted with the results,” said Stephanie Post and Hayley White, co-directors of the Fair.
“Even the 2021 Auckland Art Fair was delivered against a status quo of uncertainty, with Alert Level 3 in Auckland the week before we opened and the day before we were due to close.”
The first-ever summer edition of the Auckland Art Fair opened at The Cloud in February and had to close one day early due to the introduction of Alert Level 3 for Auckland on the final day.
Highlights included the participation of four galleries from Australia, and one each from Rarotonga and China, despite closed international borders. These galleries sent the art from overseas and worked with locals to manage their stands.
The 2021 Art Fair also saw the presentation by Govett-Brewster Art Gallery / Len Lye Centre of Len Lye’s major kinetic sculpture Big Blade, never before seen in Auckland, at the entrance to the Fair. Plus a new outdoor sculpture space overlooking the Waitematā Harbour.
Auckland Art Fair is very grateful to major partners, ANZ Private and Auckland Unlimited for their ongoing support throughout 2020 and 2021.
North Port Events, owners of the Auckland Art Fair, have confirmed that the 2022 Auckland Art Fair will be held from Wednesday 2 – Sunday 6 March at The Cloud.
For further information please visit the Art Fair website artfair.co.nz, and for updates follow @aucklandartfair on Instagram.
