COLOGNE.- From October 29 to November 1, 2011, the ninth annual ART.FAIR will celebrate its opening at the Staatenhaus am Rheinpark, Cologne. After the successful opening in the new halls in 2010, with approximately 32,000 visitors, organizers expect even more art enthusiasts this year – because there is plenty to see: the trade fair is expanding into an additional hall. A total of 16,000 m² provide a generous amount of space for even more art.

The repertoire ranges from the established figures of the 20th century to young new discoveries, and it mirrors the diversity of the international art scene. It includes familiar greats from past years, including KUNSTRAUM 21 (Cologne), Nine Gallery (Gwangju), Galerie Michael Schultz (Berlin | Seoul | Beijing), Strychnin Gallery (Berlin | London | New York) and Galerie Voss (Dusseldorf), but also new international participants, like Jiri Svestka Gallery (Berlin | Prague), Wellside Gallery (Seoul), SIAN GALLERY (Gwangju) and Victor Lope Arte Contemporaneo (Barcelona).

Integrated chronologically and spatially with ART.FAIR, BLOOOM - the creative industries art show, the worldʼs first interdisciplinary trade fair for artists from the creative industry, once again offer an innovative platform for experimentation in 2011. With more than 55 participants – including many returning artists, but also new and very inspiring exhibitors – it is already solidly positioned.

The ceremonial high point of BLOOOM once again is the granting of the BLOOOM Award by WARSTEINER, where the winners are publicly celebrated. In addition, the finalistsʼ pieces are presented in a special exhibition that is integrated into the trade fair.