Affordable Art Fair returns to Brisbane after a sellout first year
It wasn't just art enthusiasts who scored at the inaugural Affordable Art Fair in Brisbane last year.
For local artist Zoe Willey, showing at the four-day event launched her full-time career. 'I had no idea what to expect out of it [but] it went so much better than I could have ever hoped,' she says.
Willey, who grew up on the Sunshine Coast and has lived in Brisbane, was one of six emerging Queensland artists chosen to participate in the fair's Discover: Young Talent program.
She prepared 15 pieces for the event, a mix of still life paintings and her trademark 'house portraits' of coastal beach shacks and old Queenslanders. Nearly all sold over the four-day event.
'It was a huge confidence boost, to realise that there was that demand [for my art] there,' she says.
'From an artist perspective, it's such a unique opportunity in that most of the people attending the fair are there because they want to buy art.
'And from the collector's perspective, that opportunity to see art from all over Australia, at a lot of different price points, is really important, and makes art more accessible.'
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Affordable Art Fair returns to Brisbane after a sellout first year
It wasn't just art enthusiasts who scored at the inaugural Affordable Art Fair in Brisbane last year. For local artist Zoe Willey, showing at the four-day event launched her full-time career. 'I had no idea what to expect out of it [but] it went so much better than I could have ever hoped,' she says. Willey, who grew up on the Sunshine Coast and has lived in Brisbane, was one of six emerging Queensland artists chosen to participate in the fair's Discover: Young Talent program. She prepared 15 pieces for the event, a mix of still life paintings and her trademark 'house portraits' of coastal beach shacks and old Queenslanders. Nearly all sold over the four-day event. 'It was a huge confidence boost, to realise that there was that demand [for my art] there,' she says. 'From an artist perspective, it's such a unique opportunity in that most of the people attending the fair are there because they want to buy art. 'And from the collector's perspective, that opportunity to see art from all over Australia, at a lot of different price points, is really important, and makes art more accessible.'
The Age
05-05-2025
- The Age
Affordable Art Fair returns to Brisbane after a sellout first year
It wasn't just art enthusiasts who scored at the inaugural Affordable Art Fair in Brisbane last year. For local artist Zoe Willey, showing at the four-day event launched her full-time career. 'I had no idea what to expect out of it [but] it went so much better than I could have ever hoped,' she says. Willey, who grew up on the Sunshine Coast and has lived in Brisbane, was one of six emerging Queensland artists chosen to participate in the fair's Discover: Young Talent program. She prepared 15 pieces for the event, a mix of still life paintings and her trademark 'house portraits' of coastal beach shacks and old Queenslanders. Nearly all sold over the four-day event. 'It was a huge confidence boost, to realise that there was that demand [for my art] there,' she says. 'From an artist perspective, it's such a unique opportunity in that most of the people attending the fair are there because they want to buy art. 'And from the collector's perspective, that opportunity to see art from all over Australia, at a lot of different price points, is really important, and makes art more accessible.'
