Artexpo: Atlanta

Art Business News, August, 2005

Artexpo Atlanta, an international art fair featuring artists, galleries and publishers from around the world, showcases work designed fin every taste, style and budget. The event enables every new and experienced collector the opportunity to view and purchase original paintings, photography sculpture, animation, limited edition prints and giclees all under one roof, which is why "Artexpo Atlanta is really the place to 'Explore Art' [the theme for this year's festivities]," says Rob Spademan, marketing director lot the International Art & Framing Group.

Artexpo Atlanta celebrated great success in its inaugural year, attracting more than 6,500 attendees and nearly 100 exhibitors to the Georgia World Congress Center last September.

"The event was a resounding success in meeting its objectives," says Hugh Tobin, show director in 2004. "Our goals were to help ensure the success of our existing exhibitors, those who went from DECOR Expo to Artexpo, while at the same time, making certain our exhibitors reached a whole new client base." Tobin adds that last year's efforts proved beyond a doubt that the concept of combining DECOR Expo with Artexpo works.

This year's event will be held Sept. 16-18 and is expected to capitalize on the success of last year's Artexpo with an even bigger and better show. Artexpo provides a unique opportunity for art dealers, gallery owners, interior designers and consumers to view and purchase fine works of art from an impressive group of artists and publishers in an upscale gallery-like setting. The addition of 12-foot white walls, along with a truss-lighting system, will improve the atmosphere and feel of the show. And the addition of the SOLO Photo space for emerging photographers is expected to further the success of the SOLO Pavilion.

"The additions will bring an exciting new look and feel to Artexpo as we look to build on the success of last year's show," says Tobin. "Artexpo Atlanta is beginning to build steam as a new venue for art, serving collectors throughout the Southeast."

Running concurrently once again with DECOR Expo, Artexpo Atlanta draws attendees and exhibitors from around the world, as well as locally, through the Atlanta Gallery Association.

A by-invitation-only preview party kicks off the Art expo festivities on Thursday, Sept. 15. The show opens to trade buyers on Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and to the public on Friday, 2-6 p.m., continuing through Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Why Atlanta?

As large numbers of baby boomers begin to retire to the warmer Southeastern states, where the population has increased nearly 5 percent since 2003, this region of the United States continues to register above-average economic growth. Its strong economy fosters buyers with large discretionary incomes and household incomes averaging $58,368, which helps to drive the fine art market. As our nation's 8th-largest city, Atlanta literally doubled its population between 1980 and the start of the 21st century. The city is also the 5th largest market for retail sales, totaling $65 billion, in which $3.3 billion applies to furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances. And with more than 3,000 retail galleries and art dealers in the eight surrounding states, Atlanta seems to be the ideal cultural hub to hold an international art fair in the Southeast.

In addition, Atlanta's art scene continues to attract interest from artists and collectors alike, with hundreds of abandoned buildings being renovated into artists' studios in neighborhoods such as Castleberry Hill. And after the High Museum of Art's $130-million expansion and recent agreement to show on-loan works from the Louvre in Paris, the High continues to be a must-see attraction in the Southeast, along with the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, which focuses on regional talents.

Overall, visitors to Atlanta will find it to be a pleasant and exciting travel destination, with the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport offering easy access from major U.S. and international cities, and with hotel rooms starting at $99.

For more information on, and to register for, Artexpo Atlanta, call 888-608-5300; visit www.artexpos.com.