MELBOURNE.- Following two successful editions in Sydney, Australia’s leading art fair for emerging artists, The Other Art Fair, will launch in Melbourne for a four-day presentation from Thursday 4 May until Sunday 7 May 2017, connecting art lovers directly with unrepresented and emerging artists selling their works.

Presented by Saatchi Art, the inaugural Melbourne 2017 edition of The Other Art Fair is set to build momentum following the highly successful events held in Sydney in 2015 and 2016, each of which attracted more than 10,000 visitors over four days. Led by Australian Fair Director Zoe Paulsen, The Other Art Fair will present over 100 of Australia’s most talented emerging artists, each chosen by a high profile selection committee of contemporary art experts: Patricia Piccinini (Artist), Lisa Fehily (Director of Mossgreen Gallery), Kathy Temin (Artist), Dr Terry Wu (Plastic Surgeon & Art Patron) and Annika Kristensen (Senior Curator at Australian Centre for Contemporary Art).

“The Other Art Fair is unique in its approach to supporting artists, providing a platform to make original art accessible by directly connecting emerging artists with galleries, companies and individual collectors,” said Australian Fair Director Zoe Paulsen.

“The Other Art Fair is an exciting and alternative opportunity for the new generation of art collectors to discover and invest in emerging artists and future art stars, all of whom were selected to exhibit by a panel of Australian art industry experts,” added Ms Paulsen.

A dynamic and experiential public program will be presented throughout The Other Art Fair’s four day engagement, including workshops, industry-led talks, VIP events, kid-friendly entertainment, curated food and beverage and more. The venue for the Melbourne edition of The Other Art Fair, along with the full line up of events and participating artists will be unveiled in April.

The Other Art Fair, founded by Ryan Stanier in 2011 and acquired by Leaf Group Ltd. in July 2016, is a pioneering international platform for emerging artistic talent that has since seen 16 editions presented in London, Bristol and Sydney, with an additional fair launching in New York in 2017. Highlights of the 2016 Sydney edition include: 13 different artists each selling over $10,000 worth of works, 5 of which sold over $20,000 in four days; 15 artists enjoying a sell-out show; and numerous artists being contacted about commissions and gallery solo shows.

The four-day Melbourne edition is expected to attract a diverse audience and a new generation of art buyers, acting as a valuable and alternative space for emerging artists to reveal their skill in the contemporary art world. For many artists who have previously presented at The Other Art Fair, the exposure has been a springboard to new opportunities with many now working with international galleries.