Urban Art 2018, London’s largest annual open-air contemporary arts fair, will be back in Brixton on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 July.
The free event will see artists exhibiting an amazing selection of work along the length of the pavements using the railings on both sides of Josephine Avenue, off Brixton Water Lane, as an open-air gallery.
Visitors can talk to artists face to face and learn the creative processes that created them.
Now in its seventeenth year, this well established event provides affordable and credible exhibition space for new and established artists as well as a creative showcase for South London artists.
It has also raised funds for the local community over these years. This year’s beneficiaries will be Holy Trinity School, Jubilee Primary School, Southside Rehabilitation project and the Anchor Group. The show’s charity partners provide the marshals during the weekend and all will receive a percentage of sales made.
More than 1,000 works from over 100 artists will be on display. They range from the novice to the established, with prices to match this is an event for all art lovers, whatever the budget. They start at less than £10 and can reach more than £1,000 but, whatever the price, the show is a great opportunity to buy direct from a wide range of artists including painters, printmakers, street artists, photographers and mixed media. You can see examples at the Urban Art website.
More than 10,000 visitors are expected. Additional attractions for 2018 include food stalls selling hot Mexican, spicy Caribbean, healthy smoothies and some amazing coffees.
Urban Art was created in 2002 by Josephine Avenue resident and portrait artist Timothy Sutton. He saw the railings in the street and realised it was a natural open air gallery: “I knew from experience the lack of affordable and credible exhibition space, so this was a bit of a no brainer really,” he says.
Print maker Stefan Gnosspelius, who sells his work international and has been exhibiting since 2002, says: “The atmosphere is always great and the feedback from the public is always very encouraging. It’s one of my highlights of the year and one of the reasons I love living in Brixton”.
Insurance experts Jardine Lloyd Thompson are again supporting the event.
The free event runs from 10am to 6pm on both days.
Josphine Avenue is off Brixton Water Lane near the Sainsbury’s store at the junction with Tulse Hill.
