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.

You May Be Interested In

Knokke Art Fair
Affordable Melbourne

First held in London in 1999, Affordable Art Fair arrived in Melbourne in 2019 to promote emerging artists and talents of tomorrow. It hosts Australian and international galleries.

Knokke Art Fair
The Other Art Fair Sydney

Founded in 2010 to help young collectors buy their first pieces direct from the artists. The Other Art Fair arrived in Sydney in 2014 bringing creative contemporary art with it.

Knokke Art Fair
Melbourne Art Fair

Melbourne Art Fair, relaunched in 2018, presents the region’s newest and most exciting contemporary art through 40 leading galleries from Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.

Knokke Art Fair
Sydney Contemporary

Sydney Contemporary is ambitious and vibrant . Modern and emerging art forms from up-and-coming artists are exhibited by international galleries since its creation in 2015.

@galerienicolasfournery at @printempsasiatiqueparis 2024. Founder Nicolas Fournery presents me the incredible collection of turquoise glazed ceramics made in China for the European market.

#chineseceramics #turquoiseceramics #chineseart #antiqueart #ceramics #artworkoftheday #art

@galerienicolasfournery at @printempsasiatiqueparis 2024. Founder Nicolas Fournery presents me the incredible collection of turquoise glazed ceramics made in China for the European market.

#chineseceramics #turquoiseceramics #chineseart #antiqueart #ceramics #artworkoftheday #art
...

449 25
@wolfandnomad.gallery at @voltaartfairs 2024. Nomad presents me the amazing work of @alejandraaristizabal_t made from fique.

#alejandraaristizabal #fique #naturalfiber #contemporaryart #artcollector #voltafair

@wolfandnomad.gallery at @voltaartfairs 2024. Nomad presents me the amazing work of @alejandraaristizabal_t made from fique.

#alejandraaristizabal #fique #naturalfiber #contemporaryart #artcollector #voltafair
...

900 39
@193gallery at @artmonte_carlo 2024. @cesar.levy1 presents a large steel piece by @aldochaparro.

Outfit by @elisechalmin 💝

#aldochaparro #artmontecarlo #montecarlo #monaco #contemporarysculpture #steelsculpture #artoftheday

@193gallery at @artmonte_carlo 2024. @cesar.levy1 presents a large steel piece by @aldochaparro.

Outfit by @elisechalmin 💝

#aldochaparro #artmontecarlo #montecarlo #monaco #contemporarysculpture #steelsculpture #artoftheday
...

1206 66
📣 Interviews at @artmonte_carlo 2024: 
• @193gallery (Video cover: @aldochaparrostudios)
• @hauserwirth 
• @lisson_gallery 
• @galerie_retelet 
• @vandeweghefineart 

Striped outfit by @elisechalmin 💝

#artmontecarlo #artdealer #contemporaryart #artinterview #artlover #monaco

📣 Interviews at @artmonte_carlo 2024:
• @193gallery (Video cover: @aldochaparrostudios)
• @hauserwirth
• @lisson_gallery
• @galerie_retelet
• @vandeweghefineart

Striped outfit by @elisechalmin 💝

#artmontecarlo #artdealer #contemporaryart #artinterview #artlover #monaco
...

840 47
@artmonte_carlo 2024! My flight was delayed by two hours, so I didn’t have time to make a long video introducing this 8th edition, but great interviews are coming up along with my detailed article! Stay tuned 😉

Thanks @flyblade for the ride and @elisechalmin for the stunning silk outfit 💝

#artmontecarlo #helicopter #blade #monaco #montecarlo #artmonaco #collector #artlover

@artmonte_carlo 2024! My flight was delayed by two hours, so I didn’t have time to make a long video introducing this 8th edition, but great interviews are coming up along with my detailed article! Stay tuned 😉

Thanks @flyblade for the ride and @elisechalmin for the stunning silk outfit 💝

#artmontecarlo #helicopter #blade #monaco #montecarlo #artmonaco #collector #artlover
...

1566 107
@therealclarechu at @printempsasiatiqueparis 2024 presented an amazing collection of Asian snuff bottles.

#snuffbottle #snuffbottles #antiqueart #antiqueasianart  #chineseart #japaneseart

@therealclarechu at @printempsasiatiqueparis 2024 presented an amazing collection of Asian snuff bottles.

#snuffbottle #snuffbottles #antiqueart #antiqueasianart #chineseart #japaneseart
...

491 18
@cardigallery at @artbasel 2024. Founder @joelaplaca presents an impressive installation by Mario Ceroli, Progetto per la pace, 1968. 

#marioceroli #artbasel #artbasel2024 #contemporaryart #artgallery #artforpeace

@cardigallery at @artbasel 2024. Founder @joelaplaca presents an impressive installation by Mario Ceroli, Progetto per la pace, 1968.

#marioceroli #artbasel #artbasel2024 #contemporaryart #artgallery #artforpeace
...

831 41
@gillianjasongallery at @voltaartfairs Basel 2024. Founder @milliejasonfoster presents a series of paintings by @eleanorjohnsonstudio.

Striped outfit by @lapetiteetoileparis 💙

#eleanorjohnson #artgallery #contemporaryart #artinterview #artoftheday #femaleartist

@gillianjasongallery at @voltaartfairs Basel 2024. Founder @milliejasonfoster presents a series of paintings by @eleanorjohnsonstudio.

Striped outfit by @lapetiteetoileparis 💙

#eleanorjohnson #artgallery #contemporaryart #artinterview #artoftheday #femaleartist
...

1195 58
@mennour at @artbasel 2024. Founder Kamel Mennour presents three ‘Monks’ by @ugorondinone0 from 2024.

#ugorondinone #rondinone #kamelmennour #mennour #artbasel #artbasel2024 #contemporaryart
@kamelmennourprivate

@mennour at @artbasel 2024. Founder Kamel Mennour presents three ‘Monks’ by @ugorondinone0 from 2024.

#ugorondinone #rondinone #kamelmennour #mennour #artbasel #artbasel2024 #contemporaryart
@kamelmennourprivate
...

2776 106
@applicatprazan at @artbasel 2024. Owner Franck Prazan presents a painting by Jean Dubuffet from 1950, previously owned by the MoMA of New York and sold on day 1 at the fair. 

#jeandubuffet #dubuffet #dubuffetfoundation #modernart #artbasel #modernpainting

@applicatprazan at @artbasel 2024. Owner Franck Prazan presents a painting by Jean Dubuffet from 1950, previously owned by the MoMA of New York and sold on day 1 at the fair.

#jeandubuffet #dubuffet #dubuffetfoundation #modernart #artbasel #modernpainting
...

997 48
Art Basel 2024:🎙️Upcoming interviews:
• @mennour 
• @seankellygallery 
• @cardigallery 
• @applicatprazan 
• @goodman_gallery 
• @galerieasbenichou 

#artbasel #mennour #seankelly #artbasel2024 #artexploration #contemporaryart #artlover

Art Basel 2024:🎙️Upcoming interviews:
• @mennour
• @seankellygallery
• @cardigallery
• @applicatprazan
• @goodman_gallery
• @galerieasbenichou

#artbasel #mennour #seankelly #artbasel2024 #artexploration #contemporaryart #artlover
...

2111 88