The third annual Art Fair East takes place at St Andrew's Hall in Norwich this week. Arts correspondent Emma Knights finds out more from the event's founders Will Teather and Brian Korteling.
The visual arts scene is set to take centre stage this week as Norwich's St Andrew's Hall hosts the third annual Art Fair East.
Hundreds of works by more more than 75 artists will be on show at the event which runs from December 1 to 3.
It was the idea of Norwich-based artists Will Teather and Brian Korteling and it is now an established date in Norwich's arts calendar.
Bringing together the work of local, national and international artists, it offers art fans the chance to explore a unique kaleidoscope of paintings, sculpture and more.
Mr Korteling, whose studio is at Nunns Yard in St Augustine's Street, said: 'We have put it on because we are passionate about art and Norwich as a great place for art, and the fair give local artists the chance to exhibit besides national and international artists.'
Mr Teather, who is based at Muspole Studios in Muspole Street, said: 'We have galleries from London coming to the fair, including the Underdog Gallery which deals in artworks by Banksy and Damien Hirst among other artists, and Le Dame Art Gallery which deals with up and coming talent as well as established artists.
'There will be some really good landscapes, a whole lot of sculpture, and there's also a performance piece happening during the fair.
'One of the nice things about the fair is it acts as a bit of a hub for artists in the area and beyond. It's unique. It's a large exhibition made out of pop-up exhibitions. It gives the artists a chance to engage with the public and for people to meet the artists.
All work in the exhibition will be for sale and Mr Teather said the works were likely to range in price from £40 to £12,000.
'There will be a lot of work from established artists alongside people who have not shown much in the past,' he said, adding he was delighted with how the fair had grown in the last three years.
'The fact we are more established now means it is more on people's radar,' he said.
'There's a lot of local artists and also international artists. The works stand next to each other and it shows how good the work is that's made in the area.
'I think it's important to have an event like this in the area because it helps put Norwich on the map for the rest of the art world to see. It highlights the art world in Norwich to a wider audience and acts as a catalyst for things.'
Being artists themselves, Mr Teather and Mr Korteling will both be exhibiting some of their own work at the fair.
Mr Teather, 37, said he would be exhibiting an eclectic mix that included some of his magical realist paintings, his painted spheres, and his new geometric-inspired work.
He said: 'My works in general are to do with a sense of spectacle and escapism and seeing the world in a slightly different way, reminding us to look at the things we usually filter out. My work is broad and the exhibition at the fair is a good chance for me to take the audience on a journey.'
Mr Korteling, 42, who specialises in painting landscapes, will be displaying about 30 oil paintings.
He said: 'I work en plein air and in the studio. I do slightly more abstract landscapes in the studio. I paint what I see en plein air but in the studio it gives you the freedom to be more experimental.'
Some more of the exhibition highlights include:
Howard Temperley - the former Professor of American Studies at University of East Anglia specialises in creating colourful computer drawn images of the county.
Underdog Gallery - the London gallery represents emerging artists as well as big names including Banksy and Dairo Vargas.
David Chedgey - the Norfolk artist best known as Chedgey has been painting and sculpting for more than 60 years and his past commissions have included portraits of North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb and Hollywood actor Mark Strong.
Mauro Molle - the Italian artist will be exhibiting oil paintings of fantastical animals dressed in colours and patterns.
Annabel Dover - the internationally successful Ipswich-based artist has been commissioned by The Wallace Collection and the V&A and has also made many drawings of Norwich.
Val Bright-Jones - the Suffolk-based artist paints mostly moving figures in landscapes or water, and at the fair will be displaying paintings in oil and acrylic.
Art Fair East runs from December 1 to 3 at St Andrew's Hall in Norwich.
It is open on Friday from 10.30am to 5.30pm, Saturday from 10.30am to 6pm and Sunday from 10.30am to 5pm.
Entry £4, concessions £3 and under 14s are free. For more information, visit www.artfaireast.com
Eastern Daily Press is media partner for Art Fair East which is presented in association with sponsors Musker McIntyre.
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