Winter Fine Art & Antiques Fair, Olympia 6-12 November 2006

• Tickets
• Map of Fair
• Special Events
• Talks Programme
• Catalogue
• Eating at the Fair
• Accommodation & Travel
• Buyers Guide
• Art Consultants
• Vetting

Special Events
Loan EXHIBITION & SALON NIGHTS

Simply British: A Private Collection of Naïve English Paintings

This year the Winter Fine Art and Antiques Fair, Olympia is proud to host the most extensive ever exhibition of Naïve English Paintings in London. The exhibition is a non-selling loan exhibition of the pioneering collection belonging to one passionate individual.

Naïve paintings are so-called because they were painted by ordinary, untrained individuals of eighteenth and nineteenth century Britain. With skewed perspective, exaggerated scale, simple confident lines and a limited, often bold, palette, coach painters, housepainters and glaziers, tavern and trade sign painters around the British Isles were commissioned to showcase a farmer’s livestock or depict a local event, person or place, giving a fascinating insight into what was considered valuable or prestigious in days gone by.

The often unnamed and untrained ‘artists’ display a child-like handling of perspective and proportion that lends their work a special charm. The exhibition includes iconic images of well-loved places across the country, including ‘A View of Groombridge Place, East Sussex’ c.1754-60 where simplistic forms and silhouettes of homes, clouds and dwellings are repeated across a bird’ s eye view flat picture plane.

Traditionally naïve painting has been ignored or overlooked by the mainstream art establishment and regarded as amateur and insignificant. However modern audiences are becoming increasingly beguiled by the raw, minimal and unpretentious qualities of these works. Art historians and critics are increasingly discovering qualities and values in these vernacular images that have links with early twentieth abstract and surrealist paintings.

SALON NIGHTS AT THE WINTER FAIR

The Fair presents a special talks programme in association with Miller’s Academy, The Last Tuesday Society and Home House. Experience salon culture with pre-talk cocktails provided by Miller’s Gin, followed by enlightening and stimulating speakers from the worlds of culture, media and antiques. Guests who attend will be able to browse the Fair, enjoy a casual drink, listen to the talks and engage with the speakers. A full list of events will be available here from October.

Talks will be held at 7pm in the Club Room at the Fair.

TICKETS £10 to include entry to the Fair.
Advance booking is recommended. Call +44 (0)870 161 2124 to reserve a place.

Click here for a programme guide

MILLER’S ACADEMY

LAST TUESDAY SOCIETY

Home House

For more information contact our PR Agency:

Theresa Simon & Partner
Tel. 020 7734 4800
pr@theresasimon.com

The Venue

Olympia Exhibition Halls,
Hammersmith Road,
London W14 8UX

Find more information on how to find the halls here.