“The Art Car Boor Fair kicks off Christmas with a special festive edition” so reads the headline of the communication that just landed –

“I think it’s really successful because it’s affordable art from artists at all levels and different points in their careers, some people come for fun and other people are real collectors and connoisseurs…it’s about bringing art to the people…it’s a really good idea.” Tracey Emin

The Art Car Boor Fair kicks off Christmas with a special festive edition on Sunday 9 December, it all happens back at The Workshop, Lambeth, over by Newport Street and the galleries and such, scene of the 2017 summer event. it all kicks off at midday and runs until 6pm, if you’ve never been to the now long-running summer version of the event that being held for the first time in a Christmas format then you need to know that the fair is “the art world’s most exuberant event” or so say The Sunday Times.

“Now in its fifteenth year, Art Car Boot Fair, the art fair where buyers can meet and barter with their favourite artists, is launching its first Christmas edition. Bringing together over 80 renowned artists, Art Car Boot Fair Christmas Wrap Party will take place in the heart of Vauxhall’s new gallery district on Sunday 9 December. Recognised for its democratic spin on the traditional art fair, Art Car Boot Fair has made a name for itself as the only place to bid, buy and haggle with some of the most celebrated artists in the world”, okay, best disclose the fact that’s there a little bit of blowing me own trumpet going on here, I’m one of the artists invited to take part once again, always love taking part in the fair, always an honour to be invited, the Summer event is always a highlight of the London art year, the Kings Cross event was excellent earlier this year. .

“To mark this very special edition of the fair the line-up includes Bob & Roberta Smith, Rachel Howard, Gavin Turk and Deborah Curtis, Marcus Harvey, Andrew Weatherall, Mat Collishaw, Polly Morgan, Jessica Voorsanger, Patrick Hughes, Juno Calypso, Charming Baker, Chris Levine, Cristabel MacGreevy, Mr Bingo, Geraldine Swayne and Kristjana S Williams. The fair will featuring a vast range of works, some of which may be created on the spot with many pieces available for £50 and under, offering the chance to snap up unique artworks at bargain prices”.It is indeed true, bought a signed print off Tracey Emin for twenty quid a couple of years back, sold a painting to that bloke out of the Mighty Boosh for the same price this year, you really can pick up some really exciting pieces of original art at pocket friendly prices…

“Since its inception in 2004, Art Car Boot Fair has featured hundreds of artists; from Turner prize-winners to exciting emerging talent and more recently the cream of the urban scene. Now considered one of the most unique car boot fairs in the world and a truly unmissable fixture of the London art scene. The ethos of the fair is simply this: artists show up in person to sell their specially made just-for-the-day wares and in return, you both barter and they take what they make. Unlike any other art fair, Art Car Boot Fair takes no money from the artists and also provides production funding for invited artists” – and that bit is important, we artists are treated awfully by most art fairs, they charge us a ridiculous arm and quite a few legs, some of them really do take the piss, the Art Car Boot Fair really in about the only one that treats the artists well, as a working artist I avoid most of them, the Art Car Boot Fair is brilliant for artists, I might even wear a red and white hat in festive celebration, you won’t catch me making anything Christmassy though, art is for life not just for Christmas. Hey come on, buy a piece of original hand-painted art and show your loved ones you really care, anyone can buy tat from Amazon or the Poundstore, don’t be heartless, buy some art, buy something unique and support an artist or two while you’re doing it… ..

“Offering an incredible festive programme of events, the 2018 Christmas edition of the Fair will take-over The Workshop in Vauxhall, a vast, covered space close to Vauxhall and Lambeth North tube stations. Visitors can expect unique Christmas gift bargains, including on-the-spot, personalisations and hand finishing by the artists themselves, plus a special wrapping and postage service, Christmas cards and unusual decorations. Alongside a host of interactive games, including mystery prizes, raffles, pass the art parcel, art bingo and a Secret Santa Casino, the fair will also offer live music, delicious seasonal dishes and drinks and free kids activities – guaranteeing an unmissable, fun-filled, unique one-stop Christmas shopping experience for art lovers and creatives in London”.

“Highlights of the December 2018 programme include: 80 established and emerging artists, including Bob & Roberta Smith, Rachel Howard, Gavin Turk and Deborah Curtis, Marcus Harvey, Andrew Weatherall, Mat Collishaw, Polly Morgan, Jessica Voorsanger, Patrick Hughes, Juno Calypso, Charming Baker, Chris Levine, Cristabel MacGreevy, Mr Bingo, Geraldine Swayne and Kristjana S Williams. Artists will be selling work from £50 and under and will offer hand finishing and personalisations on purchased pieces. A special wrapping and postage service will also be available on-site, alongside handmade Christmas cards and decorations”.  (SW)

Other attractions include…

Renaissance Selfies – Designed to engage and encourage a creative response from visitors, Renaissance Selfies presents the opportunity to create hilarious portraits in an early Renaissance style.

Portraits in Plasticine – Acclaimed artist Wilfred Woods will be offering visitors the chance to have their portraits done in plasticine. Exquisite works of art in themselves, the plasticine portraits are fun and creative in their likeness, making them a perfect keepsake.

The Misfortune Teller will be offering unique Dark Therapy, personalised dark prophecies for the coming year.

Live music and performances will run throughout the day, with musical sets from top DJ’s including Andrew Weatherall and Justin Robertson and an Acapella Carol-Singing Choir.

The Secret Santa Casino will give brave buyers the chance to buy a ready-wrapped present from a number of artists exhibiting on the day; visitors will have no idea what’s inside and the real fun is to be had in mailing the present direct to someone else using the fair’s special postage service. Mystery prizes, raffles, pass the art parcel and art bingo can also be enjoyed during the fair.

Numerous stalls offering seasonal dishes and drinks will be available at the fair.

Flash Sales on-line – Partnering with Vero – the cool and ad-free social network – the Art Car Boot Fair will be offering our first flash sales of super-desirable artworks on-line every Sunday throughout December. Details will be announced across all social media channels and via the Art Car Boot Fair newsletter a few days in advance of each sale.

Founder of Art Car Boot Fair, Karen Ashton comments. “The Christmas edition of the Art Car Boot Fair will be a seasonal fair like no other where visitors can buy, barter for and win an incredible array of original art works and wares in an exuberant atmosphere of frivolity and fun.”

For the full programme please visit www.artcarbootfair.com

We’ve written extensively about the fair here at Organ of course, here’s some raise from others for Art Car Boot Fair…

“I think it’s really successful because it’s affordable art from artists at all levels and different points in their careers, some people come for fun and other people are real collectors and connoisseurs…it’s about bringing art to the people…it’s a really good idea.” Tracey Emin

“I love the fact that the artists themselves come and sell their own work, it somehow democratizes art and makes it available to more people and helps the audience understand art” Gavin Turk

“It’s always a great day out, a chance to catch up with old friends and meet some new ones and a joy to be able to make my work accessible to a wider audience, and to be able to meet so many people that seem to know about my work – full of surprises!” Peter Blake

“The Art Car Boot Fair is a rare place where highbrow meets lowbrow, rich meet poor and business meets pleasure. It’s those queueing with the greatest patience, not bank balance, who are granted first dibs on the unique work for sale. This, along with direct contact between artist and buyer, makes this the most democratic fair on earth”
Polly Morgan

“The gloriously democratic art car boot fair presents the art world at its collegiate best – with big names parked up next to emerging new talent and bargains to be had by all!” Louisa Buck, writer, broadcaster and contemporary art correspondent, The Art Newspaper

“The most stylish car boot sale imaginable” Vogue

“This year’s line-up promises to be as electric as ever” The Guardian

“The artiest boot fair on the planet” The Independent

“The fifth instalment of this super-trendy art fair” The World of Interiors

“The funkiest car boot fair around” The Wall Street Journal

“The art world’s most exuberant event… It’s the most unorthodox explosion of fun and art” The Sunday Times

“If you had skipped along to the Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair last weekend you might have thought you were dreaming…Fine Sunday fun “ Tatler

“The annual Art Car Boot Fair has become something of an institution” The Guardian Guide

Visitor Information
Sunday 9 December 12-6pm
The Workshop, 26 Lambeth High Street, London SE1 7AG
Nearest tube: Vauxhall or Lambeth North
Advance Tickets £10. Free after 5pm – Link

A photo or two from previous fairs, mostly from our boot and our point of view, click on an image to enlarge or to run the fractured slide show…