Explore installations, photography, and emerging artists shaping this year’s Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong
Have you ever thought about bringing an art piece into your home, only to feel put off by the price or unsure where to begin? This May, the Affordable Art Fair returns to Hong Kong for its 13th edition, bringing together 105+ galleries and a wide range of contemporary works. With prices starting from HK$1,000, it offers an accessible entry point into collecting.
At its core is this year’s theme, “See Art. Love Art. Own Art.”, reflecting a shift away from the idea that collecting requires expertise. Instead, it encourages a more instinctive, personal approach – one where buying art begins simply with what you’re drawn to.
Stepping into the works: 5 major installations
Across the fair, this more instinctive approach to collecting comes through most clearly in its curated presentations. The Special Projects platform introduces five large-scale installations that move beyond traditional booth displays, inviting visitors into more engaging encounters.
The works include Stephy Tang’s “Fluid Connections,” Wesley Wong’s “Mirror in the City,” Yihan Zhang’s “The Realm of the Wandering Mind,” K & J Gallery’s “Unfurled: From Seclusion to Sea,” and Isaac Spellman’s “Red, White, Bright and Young” set within the café. Together, they bring a range of perspectives and immersive experiences to the fair, encouraging visitors to pause and connect with art more directly.
A photographic lens on Hong Kong
Continuing this sense of discovery is Pieces of Hong Kong, a photography feature debuting this year. It brings together six Hong Kong-based artists – Derry Ainsworth, Jeremy Cheung, Sean Foley, Marcel Heijnen, Jay Khan and Carlo Yuen – each capturing the city from different perspectives, from quiet observation to more interpretive approaches. Through these varied lenses, the works offer a more intimate reading of Hong Kong, where familiar scenes are re-seen through individual viewpoints.
Emerging voices in focus
In parallel, the Young Talent Hong Kong section, titled “No-Rise,” spotlights five emerging local artists whose works explore themes of identity, memory and transformation. Challenging the idea of hierarchy, the exhibition creates space for diverse voices to coexist on equal footing.
Working across different mediums, each artist brings a distinct perspective – from Bard Qin’s textured clay forms and Lola Law’s expressive abstraction to Ivy Ho’s meditative compositions, Manny Yip’s reflections on childhood and culture and Karen Chan’s use of bold colour and symbolic language to convey emotion.
More than just viewing
Beyond the exhibitions, the fair extends into a series of workshop programmes, welcoming visitors of all ages to experience and create art firsthand. Sessions include printmaking workshops led by artist Zhang Qiao, where participants can ink, press or etch their own plates, alongside more relaxed Sip & Sketch sessions with local artist The Ink Trail.
For younger visitors aged 5 to 14, guided tours and hands-on sessions by Art Loop Workshops & Tours introduce art through accessible, interactive formats. Activities such as wearable art workshops, where participants design and bead their own bracelets, also offer the chance to create something to take home. Designed for both adults and children, these experiences emphasise learning directly from artists and extend the fair beyond viewing into making.
Start your collection here
With the breadth of artworks and experiences on offer, you’re likely to find something that resonates – both personally and at a price within reach. To begin your art collecting journey, the fair runs at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 14 to 17, with tickets now available via Eventbrite and Ticketflap. Tap the links to secure your visit.
