Cairns Indigenous Art Fair

The Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) is Queensland, Australia’s premier Indigenous art fair. Since 2009, CIAF has celebrated and promoted the works of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander contemporary and traditional artists to the world. As a result of CIAF’s commitment to showcasing the highest quality fine art, our artists are now highly regarded. Aside from establishing a culturally-safe platform for visual artists to share their talent in an ethical marketplace, CIAF has grown to reflect the creativity of a much broader section of the artistic community. For many years now, CIAF events also focus on music, dance and fashion; providing visitors to the fair a full immersion into some of the oldest living and thriving cultures on the planet.

Lee Cavaliere

Janina Hardings shares her views!

Artistic Director

Cairns Indigenous Art Fair 2023

Location

51 esplanade
4870 Cairns
Queensland
Australia

Dates

13 – 16 July 2023

Entrance Fee

Free Admission

Mediums

Painting
Sculpture
Performance…

Art Periods

Contemporary

Contact

artfair@ciaf.com.au
(07) 4252 6312
Website

Ceramic Brussels

Insights Cairns Indigenous Art Fair

Lee Cavaliere

Janina Harding

Artistic Director

What would you say is the DNA of CIAF?

Our people and our culture, as well as the enormous and inspiring legacy of our ancestors. This is at the core of what we do at CIAF and drives us to uphold ethical market-place practices for our artists and celebrate our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures through a festival platform.

What type of galleries are chosen to exhibit, and why?

CIAF mainly exhibits works by artists associated with Indigenous Art Centres from across the state of Queensland. Such artists are our primary stakeholders. CIAF provides them with a culturally-safe platform to express their creativity and tell their stories, whilst also enjoying healthy economic returns. However, we also showcase independent artists who have no representation, as well as some commercial galleries (which are done so on an invitation-only basis).

What is the price range of pieces? Who is the average buyer?

We cater for both the fine art market, as well as for art lovers wishing to purchase works that are more affordable. Our Art Fair features pieces ranging from a few thousand dollars, to many tens of thousands. Our Art Market features a more eclectic range of art, artefacts and craft wares.

“CIAF mainly exhibits works by artists associated with Indigenous Art Centres from across the state of Queensland.”

VOLTA Basel

© Cairns Indigenous Art Fair

Who is the typical attendee of CIAF?

CIAF is a public event and open to everyone! Our attendees are made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from regional and remote Queensland, local Cairns residents, intra and inter-state travellers from across Queensland and Australia’s capital cities. As Cairns is a tourism hub in Tropical North Queensland we also attract international visitors. CIAF also hosts a prestigious Collectors & Curators Program, made up of private collectors and institution directors and curators from across Australia and abroad.

What strategy – physical as digital – will you adopt in medium to long term?

From March 2020 the world stopped. Events, especially Art Fairs, were impossible to hold in a physical sense. CIAF decided to go digital and hold our art fair online. The digital platform included pre-recorded and livestream performances, artist talks, a symposium, conversations and virtual galleries with online This year (2021) we are back to holding a physical event, at a bigger venue for the art fair and art market! We will continue to feature content online as part of a hybrid platform.

What are two other art fairs you would suggest?

Tarnanthi in Adelaide, South Australia and Desert Mob in Alice Springs.

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@underdogs_gallery at @urbanartfair 2024. Jessica Louro presents the work of the duo of artists @pichiavo who mixes Greek aesthetic with graffiti art.

#urbanart #pichiavo #pichiavograffiti #pichiavostudio #streetart #graffiti #urbanartfair #arturbain

@underdogs_gallery at @urbanartfair 2024. Jessica Louro presents the work of the duo of artists @pichiavo who mixes Greek aesthetic with graffiti art.

#urbanart #pichiavo #pichiavograffiti #pichiavostudio #streetart #graffiti #urbanartfair #arturbain
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@mazelgalerie at @urbanartfair 2024 where I’ve came across the work of @levalet.art, a highly talented artist who create these amazing works with a peaceful foreground with an impactful background. 
A real art crush (I’ve bought two pieces of him for my personal collection!)

#levalet #figurativeart #urbanartfair #urbanart #streetart #meaningfulart #contemporaryart

@mazelgalerie at @urbanartfair 2024 where I’ve came across the work of @levalet.art, a highly talented artist who create these amazing works with a peaceful foreground with an impactful background.
A real art crush (I’ve bought two pieces of him for my personal collection!)

#levalet #figurativeart #urbanartfair #urbanart #streetart #meaningfulart #contemporaryart
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📣Upcoming ‘1 minute in the booth’ at @urbanartfair 2024:
• @jefaerosol at @david_pluskwa_art_contemporain & @galerie_mathgoth 
• @underdogs_gallery 
• @mazelgalerie 
• @danyszgallery 
• @ekowgalerie 

#urbanartfair #urbanart #arturbain #jefaerosol #aerosolart #graffiti #streetart #artfair

📣Upcoming ‘1 minute in the booth’ at @urbanartfair 2024:
• @jefaerosol at @david_pluskwa_art_contemporain & @galerie_mathgoth
• @underdogs_gallery
• @mazelgalerie
• @danyszgallery
• @ekowgalerie

#urbanartfair #urbanart #arturbain #jefaerosol #aerosolart #graffiti #streetart #artfair
...

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@urbanartfair 2024 has just opened the doors of its 7th edition in Paris! Don’t miss this opportunity to dive into this vibrant art and experience the raw, the real, the street-brought-indoors!

Artists featured in the video:
• Keith Haring at @vroomandvarossieau 
• @ernestpignon at @art_to_be_gallery 
• @missticofficiel at @art_to_be_gallery 
• @ladypinknyc at @graffitiandco 
• @invaderwashere at @galerieangebasso 
Photo cover at @brugier_rigail_galerie and first scene at @malagacha_gallery with @svengraffiti 

Thank you @gkeroparis for the very arty jumpsuit and @karinearabianparis for the shoes 💚

#urbanartfair #urbanart #arturbain #streetart #graffiti #invader #ernestpignonernest #keithharing #misstic #ladypink

@urbanartfair 2024 has just opened the doors of its 7th edition in Paris! Don’t miss this opportunity to dive into this vibrant art and experience the raw, the real, the street-brought-indoors!

Artists featured in the video:
• Keith Haring at @vroomandvarossieau
• @ernestpignon at @art_to_be_gallery
• @missticofficiel at @art_to_be_gallery
• @ladypinknyc at @graffitiandco
• @invaderwashere at @galerieangebasso
Photo cover at @brugier_rigail_galerie and first scene at @malagacha_gallery with @svengraffiti

Thank you @gkeroparis for the very arty jumpsuit and @karinearabianparis for the shoes 💚

#urbanartfair #urbanart #arturbain #streetart #graffiti #invader #ernestpignonernest #keithharing #misstic #ladypink
...

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@matta___________ at @miartmilano 2024. Co founder Pietro Rossi presents the solo show dedicated to Maximilian Arnold @maxadnorl.

#miart #miart2024 #maximilianarnold #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #emergingart #excitingart #collage

@matta___________ at @miartmilano 2024. Co founder Pietro Rossi presents the solo show dedicated to Maximilian Arnold @maxadnorl.

#miart #miart2024 #maximilianarnold #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #emergingart #excitingart #collage
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@primomarellagallery at @miartmilano 2024. @danielemarella presents an incredible work by Kenji Sugiyama.
@kenjisugiyama_works 

#miart #kenjisugiyama #miniatureworld #miniaturework #contemporaryart #amazingart #amazingartwork

@primomarellagallery at @miartmilano 2024. @danielemarella presents an incredible work by Kenji Sugiyama.
@kenjisugiyama_works

#miart #kenjisugiyama #miniatureworld #miniaturework #contemporaryart #amazingart #amazingartwork
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@wizardgallery at @miartmilano 2024. Founder @federicoluger presents a painting by @raul_cordero_studio.

#miart #miart2024 #raulcordero #contemporaryartist #poppainting #paintingoftheday #artistoftheday

@wizardgallery at @miartmilano 2024. Founder @federicoluger presents a painting by @raul_cordero_studio.

#miart #miart2024 #raulcordero #contemporaryartist #poppainting #paintingoftheday #artistoftheday
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My full article about @miartmilano 2024 is now available on artfairmag.com 🙌🏻

Swing by @arena1906 at @galleriaraffaellacortese.

#miart #miart2024 #francescoarena #swing #contemporaryart #artlover #artofinstagram #artoftheday

My full article about @miartmilano 2024 is now available on artfairmag.com 🙌🏻

Swing by @arena1906 at @galleriaraffaellacortese.

#miart #miart2024 #francescoarena #swing #contemporaryart #artlover #artofinstagram #artoftheday
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@venice.art.biennale 2024! @sarah_belmont_ reported for artfairmag to give you an exciting glimpse of what’s going on in Venice, at this 60th edition of the Biennale, curated by @adrianopedrosa, under the title “Foreigners Everywere“, borrowed from the anti-racist work by Claire Fontaine @foreignerseverywhere.

• Senegal Pavilion: @aliounediagne_officiel presented by @galerietemplon 
• Lebanon Pavilion: Mounirah Al Sohl
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• Australia Pavilion: @kithandkin_2024 
• US Pavilion: @jeffrune 

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#venicebiennale #venicebiennale2024 #venice #artbiennale #aliounediagne #mouniraalsolh #contemporaryart

@venice.art.biennale 2024! @sarah_belmont_ reported for artfairmag to give you an exciting glimpse of what’s going on in Venice, at this 60th edition of the Biennale, curated by @adrianopedrosa, under the title “Foreigners Everywere“, borrowed from the anti-racist work by Claire Fontaine @foreignerseverywhere.

• Senegal Pavilion: @aliounediagne_officiel presented by @galerietemplon
• Lebanon Pavilion: Mounirah Al Sohl
• Uruguay Pavilion: @cardozobenia
• Australia Pavilion: @kithandkin_2024
• US Pavilion: @jeffrune

Thank you @agencedezarts for filming 🎥

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@kaufmannrepetto at @miartmilano 2024. Co founder @chiararepetto presents a painting by @lilyvanderstokker.

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The complete review of @expochicago 2024 by Laura Lati is now available on artfairmag.com!
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#expochicago #chicago #contemporaryart #artcollector #artcurator
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@bigaignon_ at @artparisartfair 2024. Founder Thierry Bigaignon presents a mix media work by @catherinebalet_artist.

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@bigaignon_ at @artparisartfair 2024. Founder Thierry Bigaignon presents a mix media work by @catherinebalet_artist.

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