The final day of this year’s ART.FAIR and BLOOOM is over, but the positive resonance remains!

Today, ART.FAIR and BLOOOM concluded their successful stay in Cologne’s Staatenhaus. This year—with more than 32,000 visitors, including 12,000 visitors to the vernissage alone—even more art lovers found their way to the art fairs. The stream of guests remained steady throughout the duration of the fair. The spectrum of visitors ranged from young potential buyers to true connoisseurs and famous collectors from Germany and abroad. Looking back, both the organizers and the exhibitors were extraordinarily pleased with the results.

The networking between ART.FAIR gallerists and BLOOOM exhibitors was a particularly positive feature. Following its premiere last year, it was now not only BLOOOM that profited from ART.FAIR—the reverse was also true. Established exhibitors, such as the Galerie Filser und Gräf, developed contacts among BLOOOM exhibitors. Ewald Karl Schrade (Galerie Schrade) also enjoyed the more diverse public and experienced the proximity to BLOOOM, with its young artists, as very inspiring.

Galleries representing well-known artistic positions enjoyed not only the diverse range of visitors, but also the larger professional public, whose size increased in comparison to recent years. Some BLOOOM exhibitors also praised the openness of the visitors, who were clearly very interested in the new formats of the young exhibitors. The Goldsaal (golden hall) of the upper floor—incorporated for the first time—was also a very popular feature. In this 3,500 m² (ca. 37,500 sq. ft.) hall, the generously spaced exhibitors primarily showed modern art. Visitors enthusiastically praised the inviting atmosphere and the quality of the lighting conditions.

Among others, Galerie Terminus achieved superb sales. A work by Gerhard Richter sold for 760,000 euros and a sculpture by John Chamberlain for 240,000 euros; the majority of the gallery’s sales at ART.FAIR involved new clients and also included six large-format works by Jan Davidoff, a former pupil of Günther Förg.

Michael Schultz was also extraordinarily successful. In addition to the sale of numerous works by artists such as Sabina SAKOH, Bong Chae Son and Burkhard Held, he was able to sell an early Richter landscape to a visitor for ten million dollars.

Galerie Heitsch was able to sell 12 sculptures by Lutz Wagner—in the course of the artist’s first exhibition at a fair—as well as a painting by Jorge Villalba for 16,000 euros. In an adjacent space, Galerie Schrade and Galerie Heitsch jointly presented works by Antonio Marra. Galerie Schrade will be headed home without a work by Christopher Lehmpuhl as well as several bronze sculptures by Dietrich Klinge.

Kunsthandlung Knut Osper achieved exceptional successes with the sales of two works by Richter and also with the young artists of its project space. The Galerie Voss, of Düsseldorf, sold numerous works by its artists Kate Waters, Frank Bauer, Davide de la Rocca and Harding Meyer as well as a work on paper by Amparo Sard for five-figure (euro) sums.

The positive comments of many exhibitors complemented the successful developments of the fair. For example, the Romanian JECZA gallery was not only pleased with its sales, but also with its numerous new contacts. Through the Strychnin Gallery, Yasha Young sold works by every one of her artists, most of whom are from New York. The concept of presenting these artists in a separately curated booth proved an unqualified success.

The Cologne kunstgalerie, a first-time participant in ART.FAIR, was also able to sell works by all of its exhibited artists. The gallery’s owner, Luc de Groof, praised the supportive relationship among his colleagues at ART.FAIR.

The sales figures for BLOOOM were also good. Many exhibitors were able to book sales of a comparable quality—taking their lower price segment into account. These included the Galerie Irrgang, which has already announced its interest in doubling the size of its booth for the coming year. Berlin’s UF6 Projects sold almost all of its works.

In addition, the new contacts that BLOOOM exhibitors were able to develop at the fair were of great significance. Thus, the Projekt Farbwerte, which presents itself as a project office for all matters black-red-gold (the colors of the German flag), is now in touch with the Bonn historical museum Haus der Geschichte.

Mr. Peters – ART HUNTER, of Belgium, and art conexxion, an agency that cooperates with select galleries and businesses to plan and organize exhibitions and projects for internationally recognized artists, were among those who were able to take advantage of the quality networking that took place between visitors and exhibitors.

This year, BLOOOM was once again enthusiastically embraced both by visitors and by exhibitors from a wide range of creative fields as a space for experimentation and innovation. The concept of building bridges between ART.FAIR and BLOOOM and between established positions and cutting-edge projects has proven a success; together, the organizers are looking forward to the tenth anniversary of ART.FAIR in the Staatenhaus next year.

The art.fair International GmbH would like to cordially thank its sponsors, the Warsteiner brewery and CITROËN.

Since its foundation in 2003 by Andreas Lohaus and Walter Gehlen, Cologne’s fall art fair has steadily continued to develop. The change in venue from the Expo halls to the Staatenhaus was only one of many changes.

Last year BLOOOM, the creative industries art show, joined in as the first fair for artists from the creative industries directed by gallery owner Yasha Young. Now both fairs are gearing up together for their second round.

Nine times ART.FAIR

ART.FAIR has not only been the art event during the Rhineland fall in past years, it has also made itself an international name as Germany’s third largest art fair.. That has been made possible with the help of its protagonists – the exhibitors.

Such an international as well as varied group of participants has helped the ART.FAIR in being successful this year too: 25 galleries are from abroad. Of the 85 exhibitors, more than a third are new entrants. Loyal big names round it out. A group of long-time exhibitors completes the picture.

For the first time, ART.FAIR is on the upper floor of the Goldsaal of the Cologne Staatenhaus as well. In contrast to the past years, the fair offers even more space with this third hall. Hence 25 additional galleries can present themselves with room to spare. In the Goldsaal, there are established positions such as, for example, the BRENNECKE Gallery, the Kunsthandlung Osper and the Terminus Gallery. The wide space with its open booth structures offers the opportunity of fully engaging in the arts much like in a museum.

This year ART.FAIR will also be presenting selected positions of the 20^th century. In addition to big names in Pop Art and established greats like Gerhard Richter, Georg Baselitz, Norbert Bisky and Stephan Kaluza, ART.FAIR is placing a special focus on young talents.

ART.FAIR will also make use of the unique ambience of the Staatenhaus for attractive fringe events. They range from a fashion show to live music and parties. During all of the fair days, a lightwriting event by the internationally known art troupe Lichtfaktor will be held. It is powered by CITROËN.

Behind the columns – where the exhibition hall opens in a concave toward the Rhine –BLOOOM - the creative industries art show. extends itself as it did last year.

BLOOOM – there is more than just one art market

Set as a tender plant in fall 2010, BLOOOM immediately unfolded its full blossoms. With around 60 entrants this year, it is unique worldwide. The globalized art market calls for a new way of thinking. Instead of competing with each other, the challenge today is to build bridges and to develop synergies.

BLOOOM renders pioneering work in the constantly changing art scene. The directors of ART.FAIR and BLOOOM have dedicated themselves to the intensification of the relationships and the cooperation between the different creative branches by placing the activities of the exhibitors in the foreground.

Everyone who is here has something special to offer – be it new interdisciplinary gallery concepts, work from an artist’s collective, results of product, graphics and light designers where marketing is not a priority or fashion labels who are not only looking for their target groups at fashion events.

For the exhibitors who often escape standard classifications, BLOOOM offers a unique platform and in doing so, meets with positive resonance with a young, demanding public. Because it is only natural that in addition to the booths, there is free exhibition space at the end of the southern wing where the individual work of a sculptural and installative type of art are presented.

In the nationally held innovation competition “365 Places in the Land of Ideas”, BLOOOM received the award as “Selected Landmark” in the framework of the vernissage. The competition was carried out by the location initiative “Germany – Land of Ideas” in cooperation with Deutsche Bank.

Additionally the special exhibition of BLOOOM Award by WARSTEINER finalists’ is integrated into BLOOOM. The competition is oriented to young artists and creative professionals from Germany and the Netherlands. The award’s ceremony will take place in the framework of the vernissage. The Warsteiner Brauerei – a BLOOOM partner from the very beginning – is to be thanked.

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With BLOOOM - the creative industries art show - a new flowering of the creative economy begins. New forms of expression that lie between the traditional art market and diverse creative industries will reveal their new and refreshing faces in Cologne.

In presenting these revolutionary works, BLOOOM is excited to be the first interdisciplinary art fair worldwide. From October 29th to November 1st 2010, BLOOOM opens its doors for everyone whose creativity can’t be pressured into a rigid genre. Synchronized to ART.FAIT 21 - Fair for 21st Century Art - both will take place at the Staatenhaus am Rheinpark.

“As an expression of our society, art is always in motion. The questi- on where this development is going provided the idea for BLOOOM. It facilitates new artistic positions that were first raised by the increasingly technological nature, globalization and urbanization of our society. To bring together these creative pioneers at one place and to start connecting with them is what we want to achieve with BLOOOM.”
Walter Gehlen, executive of BLOOOM and ART.FAIR 21

International participants from various disciplines such as urban art, screen and lighting design, fashion and music, literature and typography, film and video, animation and special effects, architecture and interior design, illustration and advertising, as well as software and games, show their latest works. Art creates the future!

The selected trend-setting projects and products will clearly show that future borders between these varied creative works and art in an old fashioned sense will become increasingly permeable.

BLOOOM is the perfect opportunity for agencies, galleries, crews, designers and artists to network, sell their work and proudly present their new creations to the 30.000 expected visitors.

From April 1st 2010 the BLOOOM Award by WARSTEINER has appealed to artists and creators to participate in a nationwide art and creative competition. A jury consisting of fair director Yasha Young, Maxim of “The Prodigy”, Joko Winterscheidt from MTV Germany, ART.FAIR 21 director Walter Gehlen and Catharina Cramer from Warsteiner then chose the best submissions. Their selections will be presented at a special exhibition at BLOOOM.

The organizers of BLOOOM are also the creators of ART.FAIR 21. With its move to the Staatenhaus am Rheinpark the fair stays true to their concept: to keep art exhibitions and events under one big extraordinary roof.

“It will be really exciting to see what role BLOOOM will take in the classic art market. For us its about solidarity and mutual interest!”
Yasha Young, director of BLOOOM

Location
Staatenhaus am Rheinpark, Auenweg 17, 50679 Cologne

Schedule
Friday, October 29th to Monday, November 1st 2010
Friday to Sunday from 1pm to 9pm, Monday from 12am to 8pm
Thursday, Oktober 28th 2010 vernissage and prize giving ceremony of BLOOOM Award by WARSTEINER

Tickets
Day tickets 12.50 EUR, reduced 9.00 EUR
Group of 5 persons or more 9.00 EUR (per Person)
Vernissage ticket 20.00 EUR, reduced 15.00 EUR
Reduced prices apply to scholars, students, seniors. You will be asked for identification. Free admission for persons under 16 years.