Through Monday, September 29, the tunnel in the Chelsea district is the temporary home to one of NYC’s most accessible art fairs—the Affordable Art Fair. The fair’s inspiring and friendly atmosphere is enhanced by the tunnel’s shape, which allows for the 50 local and international galleries featured in one long line. The Affordable Art Fair offers a tasteful atmosphere, while featuring affordable prices for unique and exquisite art.
The pricing of the art that is featured at the fair sells fromf $100 and can go up to $10,000 depending on the piece. More than half of the art available for purchase, however, is priced under $5,000. All of the art in the gallery was selected upon the approval of Harper’s Bazaar Senior Editor, Charlotte Cowles and the Director of the Affordable Art Fair, Cristina Salmastrelli both of whom strongly believe that art is for everyone of every income level, and that it should be affordable to those with all different price ranges.
The Affordable Art Fair is a great way to spend one’s afternoon or evening, regardless of age, and even on its opening night, the fair was full of families with young children. The fair provides ample inspiration to little artists, and children are encouraged to bring their sketchpads and draw whatever their heart desires alongside the artists of the pieces that they are standing by. New York City mother, Brigitte Sarnt-Ouen visited the fair with her twin girls: “I like to think exposing them to art trains their eyes to see things a certain way, and I want to start while they’re still young.” Her twin girls, Charlotte and Caroline Leung are featured in the images above, standing under the works by Mariko Ishikawa.
Cowles and Salmastrelli’s vision comes full circle in the Affordable Art Fair. With the gallery inhabiting one of New York’s landmarks, The Tunnel, which is just a block away from one of the entrances to The Highline, the fair provides an entirely affordable and enjoyable option for spending the day in Chelsea with the entire family, while at the same time exposing the kids to all that the city has to offer.
