StART KX 2024
At new venue – Town Hall, King’s Cross
10 years ago, StART was the first ever art fair at the Saatchi Gallery. A decade on, the fair relocates to the Town Hall in King’s Cross, London for its 11th edition. Its home is an iconic new space in London’s world-renowned creative and technology hub, Kings Cross-St Pancras – the vibrant district for innovative talent, now known simply as KX. The dynamic and expansive programme includes artist presentations, an area dedicated to digital art, plus guest exhibitions and curated booths with diverse works spanning painting, photography, specially commissioned murals and more.
The first edition of StART in its new home promises to be an uplifting experience that truly celebrates art and creativity allowing visitors to get to know what is behind the creative drive of the exhibitors, what makes them tick, and how their work relates to the overarching themes of the zeitgeist. In 2015, StART brought international art sensation teamLab to the UK for the first time.
In 2017, the fair hosted Liu Bolin’s first live performance. The fair featured a standout installation from internationally acclaimed artist Lucy Sparrow in 2021. A year later, in 2022, over 15,000 people came to explore StART’s showcase of 100 artists from countries including South Africa, Ecuador, Portugal, Colombia, India, Austria, Korea, Thailand and Ireland. StART is a truly global art fair.
Justin Dingwall is a boundary-pushing photographer and artist from South Africa (See above). He uses nuance in his work as a driving force to create visual narratives. His imagery resonates with human perspective; the pieces come alive with subtle symbolism and metaphors that evoke what it means to be human. Dingwall’s depictions challenge perceptions and provoke thought, making him a force in the contemporary art world, attracting praise from the likes of CNN and Vogue. More recently, Dingwall has integrated textiles into his practice and in October the artist will unveil a new, textile-based mural envisioned especially for the StART exhibition, as well as presenting a wider series of works.
StART will once again present the annual Ciclitira Prize, in partnership with The King’s Foundation (formerly the Prince’s Foundation). The Prize is awarded to artists from the School of Traditional Arts annual Degree Show, which showcases individuals whose practice is focused on traditional art forms. As commercial partner for the King’s Foundation, StART enables the winning artists chosen from the MA course to present their work within the commercial setting of the Fair.
This year, The King’s Foundation will present an Alumni exhibition inspired by the great art traditions of the world. This year’s graduating students have exhibited an ambitious range of work including Etruscan Bucchero tiles, Ukrainian folk painting, Orthodox iconography, intricate wood inlay, Western illumination and calligraphy, Persian and Indian miniatures, exploratory polyhedral structures of varying scales and Islamic geometry.
American photographer David Aimone transcends traditional techniques, using alternative methods to craft his meticulously composed images. Each of his photographs holds a subtle, silent power, inviting viewers to see beyond the surface. Aimone’s artistic philosophy is deeply rooted in his musical background.
Drawing parallels between music and photography, he strives to make artistic images that unfold like beautifully crafted symphonies. Aimone often works with natural light to find beauty in subjects ranging from people to landscapes. Using old lenses, various types of film, and exploring image production through digital manipulation to handcrafted prints are all part of his creative repertoire. This will be Aimone’s UK art fair debut.
StART art fair founder Serenella Ciclitira comments: “The move to King’s Cross marks a bold new chapter for StART as we further expand our horizons and look to some of the world’s most interesting and pioneering markets. This stunning new venue provides international galleries with an incredible new platform in the heart of creative London.” David continues, “We have always been a fair that focuses on spotlighting the most dynamic and evolving art markets and creating an atmosphere of genuine discovery and excitement. We are looking forward to continuing this mission in such a prestigious new London venue.”
StART art fair runs from 7-13 October 2024.
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