The London Original Print Fair 2014

One of London’s favourite boutique art fairs, the London Original Print Fair returns to the RA in April. Bringing together some 50 international exhibitors with expert print knowledge, the show provides an opportunity to buy contemporary prints and rare works by modern and old masters. This year sees a wealth of newly published works by leading contemporary artists exhibited for the first time at the fair. The LOPF 2014 opens on Thursday 24th April at the Royal Academy and runs for four days with a number of talks and events.

2014 is an exceptional year for newly published prints: Alan Cristea Gallery present a solo exhibition of Gillian Ayres prints, including a series of newly printed carborundum etchings and large format woodcuts; Paupers Press are showing works by Stephen Chambers and Mat Collishaw; Advanced Graphics present new prints by Alan Kitching and Albert Irvin; Brook Gallery showcase Chris Orr’s engravings and etchings; and Rabley Drawings bring Eileen Cooper’s latest woodcuts to the fair. Ingleby Gallery present a new screenprint by Harland Miller; Himmelblau are bringing new work by Richard Deacon and Pratt Contemporary are unveiling a new series of prints by Ana Maria Pacheco.

The galleries, print dealers and print publishers at LOPF offer a wealth of expertise both for those already collecting and those who are new to buying prints. Lithographs, etchings, engravings, woodcuts, screenprints and digital prints are all given a platform at the RA which provides a convivial and historic setting for intelligent collecting. The Fair covers all periods of printmaking from the etchings and drypoints of Rembrandt, Andy Warhol screenprints and David Hockney etchings, to the graphic work of contemporary artists such as Paula Rego and Grayson Perry. It brings together all aspects of the print market in the largest such event in Europe.

Since its inception in 1985 LOPF has been held at the RA and this year it coincides with the exhibition Renaissance Impressions: Chiaroscuro woodcuts from the Collections of Georg Baselitz and the Albertina, Vienna in the Sackler Wing at the RA (15 March – 8 June). A number of Old Master print dealers, including C.G. Boerner, Frederick Mulder, Christopher Mendez and Elizabeth Harvey-Lee present chiaroscuro prints at the Fair.