Running from June 26-30, Fair For Saatchi hosts up to 25 exhibitors offering painting, drawing and sculpture. Mayfair’s modern and contemporary specialist Mayor Gallery has already confirmed its attendance.
The event has been set up by Robert Sandelson, who took over the running of the 20/21 British Art Fair last year after buying it with his brother Jonathan from co-founders Gay Hutson and the late Bunny Wynn.
That event will also coincide with a major fair this year after dates were shifted back from September to October to overlap with Frieze London.
Though it shares a venue with the autumn 20/21 fair, Sandelson told ATG that the new fair is “its own entity with a little bit of the same DNA”, welcoming international as well as British art.
It was announced last week with only around nine weeks to go, after it was officially given the go-ahead by Saatchi the previous Friday.
Sandelson said that, despite the short lead time, the fair will appeal to dealers thanks to its Chelsea setting and attractive pricing, reducing the risk for participants.
Staged across the ground and first floors of the Chelsea gallery, it coincides with the opening days of nearby fair Masterpiece London (June 27-July 3), one of the major events of London’s summer season.
Other dealer-led events such as The Art & Antiques Fair Olympia (June 19-28) and London Art Week (June 28-July 5) also participate in this busy period of the London summer calendar.
It is also positioned to attract buyers coming into the capital for the major contemporary evening auctions at Christie’s (June 25) and Sotheby’s (June 26).
Sandelson said: “Some people might say there are too many fairs. In fact, there are too many galleries and we are providing part of the solution for them.”
