The Connect Art Fair returns

The Connect Art Fair returns to the Mall Galleries from March 23 to 27.

The fair is organised by dealers for art lovers and taking the current situation in Ukraine into account, the dealers have decided that they will put together a ‘Wall of Paintings’ to be offered for sale with either proceeds, profit or a percentage being passed on to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) going directly to help Ukrainian refugees.

There will be a mix of paintings, drawings and prints on the wall and visitors to the fair will be encouraged to check out the variety on offer and support Ukrainian refugees by buying art.

In addition, the fair has been asked to sell the flying cap and scarf that belonged to one of the second World War’s RAF heroes Sir Douglas Bader as part of the charity offering. Although the owner wants to remain anonymous, he is a generous supporter of the fair and felt that these two items may remind us of the heroism and determination against all odds, which is again demonstrated by the people of Ukraine. The seller asks £25,000 for the cap and scarf that once belonged to one of Britain’s greatest heroes and 33% of the proceeds will go to the DEC, which brings together 15 leading UK aid charities (including Children in Need, the British Red Cross and Oxfam) to raise funds quickly and efficiently in order to help those leaving everything behind fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, desperately in need of shelter, food and water.

There is a ticketed opening preview on March 23 (3.30-9pm), with tickets for this opening distributed via exhibitors and the Connect website costing £15. Otherwise the fair will be open from 11 am to 7 pm daily, closing at 4 pm on Sunday 27th. Tickets for the duration of the fair will be available from exhibitors or the Connect website and can also be purchased at the door for £10.

Organisers James Manning and Anna Wakerley said: “There was a new buzz of excitement at the prospect of seeing colleagues, collectors and buyers face to face once more. Some dealers have traded happily online during the past two years and this has awakened everyone to the importance of virtual platforms, but nothing can take the place of actually ‘seeing’ an artwork in person. There is something magical in the way an artwork can ‘connect’ with you and nothing can replace that.”

The Fair provides an opportunity to bring together dealers from London and outside London, both dealers who have galleries and those who do not.

Connect hosts both contemporary and Modern British dealerships with a handful of niche dealers who will be bringing Japanese prints (Japanese Paintings and Prints) and academic drawings and prints (Nonesuch Gallery and Elizabeth Harvey-Lee). Original St Ives works will be on show with Neil Schofield. Covetable Twentieth Century ‘Modern British’ works will be represented by Goodman Fine Art, Kynance Fine Art, Long & Ryle, Thomas Spencer Fine Art and Blondes Fine Art. Exceptional contemporary works will feature with Kittoe Contemporary, Amanda Aldous Fine Art, John Iddon Fine Art and Carina Haslam Gallery among others. Fine artist’s prints will be represented at Emma Mason and Gwen Hughes Fine Art.