Chasing lightning at Melbourne Art Fair

Melbourne Art Fair’s 2024 edition really embodied its theme of ‘ketherba/together’.

The opening night Vernissage is always highly anticipated, attracting an art-loving crowd of celebrities, media, artists, gallerists, dealers, collectors, designers and more. There was Troy Sivan wandering the aisles, alongside familiar faces such as Australian TV personality Shaynna Blaze, mainstays of the Melbourne creative scene David Flack (this year an MAF ambassador), and Georgie Cleary of Alpha60 (MAF official partner).

Top that with all the hottest names in the Australian and Melbourne art scene today – it was the perfect opportunity to put faces to the names you follow.

There are so many ways to dive into the MAF program – whether you’re an art aficionado, or a humble enthusiast – and this year’s program was interesting for its alignments with the likes of fashion brand Alpha60, renowned for its artistic partnerships and initiatives. For the 2024 MAF program, Alpha60 teamed up with artists Mikala Dwyer, Kate Rohde, and Lottie Consalvo to craft a set of purchasable bags that beautifully blend art and adornment. 

Interior designer David Flack of Flack Studio is a passionate proponent for art as both a source of inspiration and a foundational element of interior environments. Flack worked with MAF to bring an layer of immersion to its program with a whimsically opulent French Riviera bistro serving Piper-Heidsieck Champagne, and celebrating Darren Sylvester works.

Related: Pixie by Flack Studio in Byron Bay

Another appealing cross-over saw designer Jordan Gogos team up with Glenfiddich Whisky to create an art-drenched whisky bar, furnished with colourful textile art and sculptural furniture. Meanwhile Oigall Projects designed the VIP Lounge, a scaffolded structure that gave outliers a glimpse (and VIPs a close-up view) of collectible designs and sculptural artworks – two stand-outs being the Concentric Chair by Anna Varendorff, and the arrestingly red Oankali by Jeremy Blincoe.

Amidst the buzz of people and visual kaleidoscope of exquisite art in all its imaginable forms and mediums, you can’t help but seek out the lightning strikes. The work of fibre artist and weaver Tammy Kanat (Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert), was a grounding moment – curious and compelling in its texture, colour, rhythm and balance: an almost miracle blend of beauty that occurs through Kanat’s intuitive artmaking. She was this year awarded the Richard Parker Award.

MAF’s 2024 program encompassed 60 galleries and Indigenous arts centres presenting over 100 artists. Take the MAF Virtual tour here.

Melbourne Art Fair
melbourneartfair.com.au

Photography
Various

Oigall Projects, photography by Griffin Simm.

Next up: 10 years of the MPavilion marked by Tadao Ando’s work.