SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- stARTup Art Fair announced that the fair’s three-day art extravaganza will return to Hotel Del Sol—an updated 1950s California motor lodge—for its second San Francisco edition, hot on the heels of its debut in Los Angeles. From April 29 - May 1, 2016 each exhibiting artist will transform one of the hotel’s fun, relaxed and stylish rooms into their own solo exhibition space. An independent art fair for unrepresented artists, stARTup Art Fair will, once again, provide artists with direct access to the art world and art enthusiasts, creating a unique exhibition platform for thought-provoking contemporary artwork.

Applications for stARTup Art Fair San Francisco are being accepted now through February 15, 2016. Through a democratic, online application process, artists will be chosen by an impressive and influential selection committee with a diverse range of art world professionals that includes:

• Renny Pritikin, Chief Curator, The Contemporary Jewish Museum

• Hung Liu, San Francisco-based artist and retired professor, Mills College

• Max Presneill, artist and Director/Curator, Torrance Art Museum

• Marianna Stark, President, Board of Directors, Berkeley Art Center; Board of Directors, Oakland Art Murmur

• Michael Arcega, San Francisco-based artist and professor, San Francisco State University

• Alex Ray, Art Consultant, Five Senses Art Consultancy

stARTup Art Fair San Francisco has also enlisted the help of a seasoned and respected group of California-based art professionals for its Advisory Council: Cathy Kimball, Executive Director, San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art; Blair Winn, Interim Director of Development, The Exploratorium; Heather Marx, Principal, Heather Marx Art Advisory; Christine Duval, Independent Curator and advisor; Principal, Duval Contemporary; Stephanie Wei, Managing Director, Wells Fargo Securities; Adam O’Donnell, Principal Engineer, Cisco; and Bettina Stiewe, Founder, Upstart Modern Art Consultancy.

stARTup Art Fair was conceived of and founded by artist/educator Ray Beldner and former gallery owner Steve Zavattero, as an innovative and experimental way to provide artists with access to a professional exhibition environment populated by dealers, curators, collectors, critics, publishers and art appreciators. For its third edition, stARTup Art Fair will keep with the fair’s original intention to provide unaffiliated artists with a space that inspires the creation of distinctive and inspiring solo exhibitions. Most importantly, all participating artists keep 100% of the proceeds from their sales, as well as any new & proprietary relationships established during the fair.

Several of the artists from the inaugural stARTup Art Fair San Francisco reported significant connections leading to new exhibitions and gallery representation, as well as stellar art sales:

“I had a fantastic time, made multiple sales, made tons of new contacts and overall just thoroughly enjoyed the experience.” —Rebecca Fox

“Thanks for doing such an excellent job at promoting the fair…I am extremely pleased with the whole event and your efforts really paid off.” —Kathy Aoki

“The fair was well organized, publicity was great and attendance on Saturday and Sunday was unrelenting in my room.” —David Jones

“Just the connections alone were worth it.” —Theresa Morgan