Moniker Art Fair 2017 Visual Arts

For 2017, Moniker Art Fair has undergone an exciting evolution, tripling in size to accommodate 40 gallery stands!

While Moniker has previously venue-shared with The Other Art Fair, this October they will move to a new floor of the Old Truman Brewery as they boldly re-instate their dominance on the East End arts hub, focusing this year on the origins of urban art.

Few art forms rely on collectives and collaborations as much as urban art; born in the dust of the locomotive age as far back as 1914, it has evolved to see modern-day monikers spring up on walls worldwide, shifting in style and message as international artists meet and influence each other.

Just over a century later, Moniker Art Fair remembers where it all began, taking visitors on a journey from the root of the burgeoning international street art scene and its importance today.

As the leading international fair exhibiting contemporary and urban art, Moniker’s eighth edition titled ‘Transient Tales’ will once again push the boundaries of conventional exhibitions, dedicating more than 9,000-square-foot of space to immersive art installations.

Legendary documentarian, photographer and film editor Bill Daniel – the international authority on Moniker culture, will bring his unique, revered perspective to the fair’s installations. His documentary, Who is Bozo Texino, will be included in a programme of short films and documentaries running alongside the fair.

As ever, Moniker welcomes the elite of contemporary and urban art galleries from across the world, showcasing artists working beyond norms and conventions. The UK is represented by the likes of returning exhibitors Stolen Space, RISE, Jealous Gallery and Curious Duke Gallery as well as debuts from Well Hung Gallery and BleachBox Gallery. Meanwhile, international galleries debuting include Thinkspace Gallery from California, Station16 Gallery from Montreal and Gallery Itinerrance from France.

A new initiative for Moniker 2017 sees galleries ‘younger’ than two years given the chance to exhibit, a step up for ambitious up-and-coming gallerists and an opportunity not usually given by other major art fairs. Young Galleries invited to exhibit this year include UK-Art from Japan, Jewel Goodby Contemporary and 1963 Gallery from the UK.

Fair Director of Moniker Art Fair, Tina Ziegler, comments, Moniker was started in 2010 to welcome the urban and street art community, which traditional fairs weren't catering for at the time. Eight years on, we still see the urban art market growing at an incredible rate, and Moniker has a responsibility to reflect that growth while staying authentic to the roots of our genre. This year will see 30,000 square feet of space dedicated to the fair’s growing ambition and immersive artist installations. Alongside that, we’re continuing to polish the fair's offerings on an industry level - this year will see the launch of our new Moniker’s Black Card VIP programme, a curated film and talks programme, and our Young Galleries programme - but at our heart Moniker champions the urban and New Contemporary art movement, and that’s what will always matter most.

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