LONDON.- The third 20|21 international art fair takes place at the prestigious Royal College of Art, in Kensington Gore, London SW7, from 19 - 22 February. It will be opened by Griff Rhys Jones at 12 noon on the 19th.

Launched to much acclaim in February 2007, the fair features modern and contemporary art from China, Japan, Russia, Australia, the Ukraine, Poland, France, Eire and, new this year, from Thailand and New Zealand, alongside a large selection of Modern British and contemporary work.

0ver 50 exhibitors, most of whom are UK based, will offer art by both 20th and 21st century artists : Matisse, Miro, Picasso and Chagall (all works on paper) plus British 20th century favourites such as Henry Moore, David Hockney, Bridget Riley and Damien Hirst as well as many artists who may be less well known but are well worth discovering.

Included will be oils, original prints, watercolours, drawings, photography and ceramics from 1900 to the present day.

London remains the most cosmopolitan city in the world and this is reflected in the enormous variety of art on offer from galleries and dealers. This fair gives people the opportunity to enjoy this diversity under one very historic roof.

Affordable quality is the key ingredient to this fair and, with vetting under the chairmanship of art consultant Anthony J Lester, FRSA, this is a priority. He says of the event: ‘my fellow vetters and I scrutinize the exhibits to ensure they meet certain criteria, such as quality and authenticity – important factors given the enormous increase in value of much modern and contemporary art’.

‘The response to the fair this year has been amazing’, say the organisers, Gay Hutson and Angela Wynn who also run the successful 20/21 British Art Fair each September at the same venue, ‘both dealers and visitors must like the variety of art on offer, the accessible price range, the manageable size and, most importantly, the friendly atmosphere’.