September 9–11, 2016
PHOTOFAIRS | Shanghai
Shanghai Exhibition Center
Shanghai
China
January 27–29, 2017
PHOTOFAIRS | San Francisco
Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason Center
San Francisco, CA
www.photofairs.org
The World Photography Organisation today announced that it is bringing the third edition of its highly successful Shanghai fair under a new brand, PHOTOFAIRS, international art fairs dedicated to photography. Fair destinations include PHOTOFAIRS | Shanghai, September 9–11, 2016 at the Shanghai Exhibition Center and PHOTOFAIRS | San Francisco, January 27–29, 2017 in the Festival Pavilion at the Fort Mason Center.
“After two extraordinary years presenting fine art photography to the world in Shanghai, it made sense for us to recognize the growing interest in and demand for photography worldwide by creating this brand and bringing the fair to a new destination,” said Scott Gray, CEO of World Photography Organisation and PHOTOFAIRS.”
In each of its destinations, PHOTOFAIRSis dedicated to presenting fine art photography and moving image from leading international galleries and their artists. Confirmed galleries for both the Shanghai and San Francisco editions include: Blindspot Gallery (Hong Kong); ShanghArt (Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore); Camera Work (Berlin); Flowers Gallery (London, New York), and Eric Franck (London).
Providing a distinctive and considered platform for galleries from across the globe, the fairs showcase photography to the international community. Through its highly curated approach, PHOTOFAIRS provides an elegant and dynamic environment for established and new collectors alike. In addition, events programs and bespoke advisory services during the fairs create an engaging platform to nurture new collectors.
“PHOTOFAIRS offers an amazing opportunity for international audiences to engage with the most exciting art form of the 21st Century—photography—at the highest level,” said Alexander Montague-Sparey, Artistic Director of PHOTOFAIRS. ”For each edition, PHOTOFAIRS works with the most discerning gallerists to ensure an edit which is both mouth-watering and cutting-edge. The aim of the fairs is to underline, across generations, that photography and moving image are intellectually rigorous, historically relevant and intensely sensorial.”
San Francisco, the US destination for PHOTOFAIRS, has been selected for its strong photographic legacy. It has long been regarded as a leading US center for photography and is arguably today, the most important city in the US for the medium, alongside New York.
The city is home to world-class museums, commercial galleries, contemporary art collections and an informed collector base, all of whom have a strong impact in the market as well as commitment and sensitivity to the photographic medium and the artistic talent that creates it. This energy is evident in the inspirational values of San Francisco and the wider Bay Area, including the North & East Bay Areas and Silicon Valley. Like PHOTOFAIRS | Shanghai, San Francisco will provide a platform for visitors to purchase and celebrate photography on a truly international scale.
Now in its third successful year and the first PHOTOFAIRS destination, PHOTOFAIRS | Shanghaicontinues to reflect the increasing demand in China and the wider Asia Pacific region for collecting photography. PHOTOFAIRS | Shanghaiis now the benchmark for contemporary photography in this region, as demonstrated by the successes of the past two years both in terms of sales and visitor numbers. The 2016 edition will include a cutting-edge moving image section named “Connected” curated by the eminent Chinese critic, Feng Boyi.
PHOTOFAIRS not only presents a worldwide platform for galleries and collectors, but will also host an exclusive exhibition, bespoke VIP program and dynamic public programs. This is exemplified in last year’s 2015 Shanghai special museum scale exhibition of 156 works by celebrated American artist Taryn Simon, presented by Gagosian Gallery.
“We are very excited to participate in the first edition of PHOTOFAIRS | San Francisco at Fort Mason,” said James Danziger, Danziger Gallery. “For the gallery it is a great opportunity to show in San Francisco which is not only a serious and knowledgeable center of interest in photography, but also one of the most dynamic market places in the United States. Following his success with PHOTOFAIRS | Shanghai, Artistic Director, Alexander Montague-Sparey, is set to bring a highly curated and elegant contemporary fair to the West Coast—continuing a model that sets the standard for the future of the photography art fair.”
For further information please contact:
Jill Cotton, PR Director, PHOTOFAIRS / media [at] worldphoto.org / T+44 (0) 20 7886 3043
