LA Art Week 2025 Here I Come
Atlanta based artist Stephanie Brown is making her California debut with The Other Art Fair Los Angeles
I am ecstatic to announce that I have been accepted to present at The Other Art Fair LA this February 2025 during LA Art Week!
Like any other entrepreneur or small business owner you have to find your niche, your market, and go to where your ideal clients are or find a way to bring them to you. For several years I have had a strong desire to debut my work to the LA market. I think people in California are of a particular mindset and wavelength that would eagerly be attracted to my work. The 2 tiny opportunities I had to present work in LA historically went really well. So now I have a major opportunity to really test this theory!
Many artists make money from selling to collectors, selling at fairs, via commissions, via agents or gallery representatives. Sometimes the collector is an institution and not an individual. Some artists do well in commercial galleries, museums, academic/university galleries, commercial art fairs, community art markets, or direct sales on their website or via 3rd party platforms like Artsy or Saatchi Art.
I do well in academic spaces because I am the product of one and my artwork is conceptual and research-based. As of late, I have worked well with 2 major private k-12 schools in Atlanta. When time allows I would like to more aggressively pitch myself to universities across the globe to present my work via artist talks and exhibits.
I have exhibited in tons of places (see my CV) but commercial galleries and museums are a minority on the list. Now that my focus is on art sales I have been pitching and applying to present work at commercial galleries. These galleries are also one of the gatekeepers to presenting at Commercial Art Fairs like Scope, Art Basel, and Frieze to name a few. Galleries apply to present at fairs with artists they represent or believe they can sell. Until I learned about The Other Art Fair which turns this tired model on its head.
Straight from their website this is how The Other Art Fair describes their events:
“The Other Art Fair is a global gathering of creative thinkers, game changers, and pleasure seekers sharing emerging talent and unforgettable experiences.
We’ve been dedicated to representing independent artists since 2011 and since then have worked with over 3,000 artists from more than 20 countries. We host 12 in-person fairs each year across the UK, US, and Australia.
Set against the backdrop of the world’s biggest cities, each of our fairs is different. We combine boundary-pushing yet always accessible artworks from over 100 independent artists like you, with immersive installations, performances, and a few curious encounters. The result is an inspiring, evocative, inclusive, and fun event that reframes how art can be perceived and creates lasting connections between artists and art lovers.”
My marketing friend Aimee encouraged me to apply. I thought wow, here is my chance to finally do a fair on my own terms! I was attracted to all the cities where they held fairs and decided to apply to LA first since that city is a major target for me and I GOT IN!! *screams*
The Other Art Fair will be my first time solo presenting at an art fair.
Shout out to Tila Studios who gave me my first taste of the fair life at Prizm during Miami Art Week in 2019. I am also excited that it takes place during LA Art Week. Both Frieze LA and Springbreak Art Show LA will be taking place that same weekend. After loads of displacement, heartache, and ongoing attempts to contain the fires in LA, my hope is that LA Art Week is a beacon of joy in the communities once February comes around.
My participation in The Other Art Fair is made possible thanks to the generous support of Black Art In America Foundation. They continue to champion my art career in Atlanta and now they are rooting for my success in LA as well. Love ya’ll deep.
As a first timer independently presenting at a fair there is a lot I am learning and figuring out. Per usual there are not a lot of resources online especially from anyone who looks like me. So I will be documenting my experience and even may try video blogging it as well. So far I am loving my experience with The Other Art Fair staff. They put artists first and take the time to educate us with tools to help ensure we have a successful fair experience. I even had direct communication with their team for questions or concerns. The Fair director herself even offers feedback on booth layouts and pricing. They truly put in the work to help every artist succeed. I look forward to spending the next 4 weeks sharing more about my preparation for the fair.
If you are in the LA area or intend on traveling to see the show reach out to me directly so I can hook you up with a free ticket while supplies last. Alternatively use this link to get 20% off your ticket now. I encourage you to come check out me and 100+ artists in Atwater Village during LA Art Week at The Other Art Fair!
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or special requests as I document my experience! I’m excited to have you with me for this journey!
Peace + Love,
Stephanie