Every Londoner has looked through the window of a Mayfair commercial gallery and seen nothing but a lone curator surrounded by absurdly expensive paintings on an impossibly white wall. Imagine the polar opposite of that experience, and you'll be very close to The Art Car Boot Fair. This year, London's most bizarre and captivating art fairs was held on 15th May at Cubitts Square in King's Cross.
Over the years, this unique one-day festival, which was founded by Karen Ashton in 2004, has showcased work by hundreds of well-known artists, many of whom are Turner Prize winners, as well as burgeoning young talent. Since 2020, the event's organizers have responded to the global pandemic's obstacles by creating an online version of their typically boisterous one-day event, bringing the ACBF's anarchic spirit to life on the internet.
The event features a line-up of scores of artists ranging from fine painters to street artists, and everything in between. The art is specially commissioned for the occasion and given by the artist in person at fantastically reduced, just-for-the-day prices.
This year’s theme was 'electric,' so there was no shortage of ‘electrically charged art’ as well as electrifying entertainment. There were artist interactions, including the ever-popular Renaissance Selfies and live portrait drawing by Wilfrid Wood, as well as appearances by Mr Bingo, the Misfortune Teller, live music and spoken word performances, games, raffles, and a chance to gamble at the Secret Art Casino, which was already sold out by the time the event got underway.
To say the least, it was quite an exuberant event with everything to marvel at. I’m already looking forward to next year’s.
