Everything You Need to Know About The Other Art Fair: Brooklyn
Chosen by committee, the 114 artists appearing in Saatchi Art's The Other Art Fair will display their wares and works May 2–5, at the Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint. Here, AD PRO maps out everything you need to know about the local edition. (TOAF also hosts fairs in Chicago and Los Angeles, and, further afoot, in Australia and the United Kingdom.)
What, When, and Where It Is
The Other Art Fair is an artist-to-consumer event that launched in London in 2011; it has since expanded with yearly and biannual iterations in London, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Sydney, and Melbourne. It last touched down in Brooklyn in 2018, and next will be heading to Chicago. Ryan Stanier, founder and general manager of the show, writes of Brooklyn's fifth edition, "The Other Art Fair was born from a realization of the disparity between an audience eager to discover the next big thing and talented artists struggling to gain recognition. Eight years on, the effects of the fair's growing reputation are not only demonstrated through the support of leading individuals in the art world but also the frequency of success stories from past exhibitors." Beyond the obvious art scene, TOAF has also been known to offer immersive features, such as live DJ sets, art installations, 3-D printing and virtual-reality experiences, restaurant and bar pop-ups, and more. The upcoming edition will be held at Brooklyn Expo Center (72 Noble Street) and opens with a preview on May 2 that runs 6–10 p.m.; followed by May 3, 3–10 pm.; May 4, 12–9 p.m.; and May 5, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
What to Know About Buying Your Ticket
Advanced ticket prices are $15 for adults and $13.50 for students and seniors. Children under 16 are admitted for free but must be accompanied by an adult. A private-viewing ticket, which offers access on opening night, is $30. Private-viewing tickets also offer reentry to the show during the general admission days (Friday through Sunday). You can find tickets for sale on Eventbrite.
How to Get There
Reach the Brooklyn Expo Center by public transit. Take the G train to the Greenpoint Ave stop; the B62 bus to Manhattan Avenue and Calyer Street; or the B32 bus to the Franklin Street and Noble Street stop. If you're hopping aboard the East River ferry, you can get off at the India Street stop. The venue is also easily accessible via the Williamsburg Bridge, Queens Midtown Tunnel, Long Island Expressway, and the Brooklyn Queens Expressway.
What to Know About the Space
Spanning some 60,000 square feet, the glass-fronted Brooklyn Expo Center hosts, in addition to TOAF, events as diverse as the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) annual gala, specialty shows focused on coffee, tea, chocolate, whiskey, and hot sauce, and a forthcoming health and wellness show.
Where to Take a Break—and Get a Bite to Eat
There are plenty of local dining options close to the venue: 21 Greenpoint, which is walking distance from the Brooklyn Expo Center and on the banks of the East River, serves oysters off the grill, an array of pizzas, and other new American favorites, while those with a sweet tooth will appreciate local bakery Ovenly, also fairly close. Some of the most exciting dining options are right on site; think Van Leeuwen’s ice cream truck and Di An Di, a local Vietnamese spot that will be serving its fare at the venue's central fair cafe.
Where You Can Shop
Everywhere! The works at The Other Art Fair Brooklyn are for sale and the prices are clearly marked. (As the organizers phrase it: "The Other Art Fair is about bringing artists and buyers together in an unintimidating environment. You are purchasing directly from artists rather than through a gallery.") Do your research before by reading up on the participating artists to get a feel for whose work you're most interested in pursuing on the show day.
