Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong: Where Creativity Meets Accessibility in 2025

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The highly anticipated 12th edition of Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong is set to return to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 22 to 25 May 2025, bringing together 98 exhibitors to showcase a stunning array of contemporary artworks.

This year’s fair is centred around the empowering theme, “I Am an Art Collector,” designed to inspire art enthusiasts of all levels to explore and acquire art with confidence. By offering a diverse selection of high-quality works at accessible prices, the fair aims to foster a welcoming environment for both seasoned collectors and first-time buyers.

The event will feature a distinguished lineup of galleries from Hong Kong and across the globe, including exhibitors from Australia, Belgium, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, the UK, the US, and more. From thought-provoking paintings and innovative sculptures to experimental installations, the fair will showcase an exciting, diverse collection of high-quality art—all priced affordably to encourage budding collectors to take the first step in building their unique collections.

Key highlights include the Young Talent Hong Kong programme, which will spotlight emerging local artists, and Special Projects, which will present bold installations, experimental works, and live art performances. Additionally, the fair will partner with the British Consulate General Hong Kong to celebrate cross-cultural exchanges, emphasising the creative dialogue between the UK and Hong Kong.

Here’s a closer look at the highlights:

Courtesy of GAROME

The Tiny Smile Immersive Installation

The immersive art installation by The Tiny Smile (TTS) brings joy and interaction, inviting visitors of all ages to step inside, explore, and engage. Featuring vibrant colours and dynamic motifs inspired by TTS’s paintings, it creates a meditative and uplifting experience.

At its centre is the Moongate, a traditional Chinese symbol of good fortune, central to TTS’s Moongate Smile series. The installation includes Hundred Smiles, with 100 playful motifs like “up down haha” and the Chinese character for “smile” (笑), suspended throughout the space.

Blending traditional Chinese symbolism with contemporary art, this project invites moments of joy, introspection, and connection in a colourful, harmonious environment.

Courtesy of Asian Art Platform Art Gallery

Fruit Market – Li Shudan

Li Shudan’s Fruit Market reimagines the bustling marketplace as a metaphorical landscape, featuring over 365 hand-carved wooden apples alongside other fruits, including a surprise piece to be unveiled at the fair. This intricate installation blurs the line between reality and illusion, inviting visitors to question what they see and uncover deeper meanings within its handcrafted forms.

By using fruits as symbols, Li explores universal themes like growth, harmony, and the passage of time, while the inclusion of a hidden element adds a playful sense of curiosity. This Hong Kong rendition of Fruit Market draws inspiration from the vibrancy of traditional markets, offering a culturally resonant and thought-provoking experience that encourages reflection and discovery.

Courtesy of K & J Gallery

The Spirit of Hong Kong Through the Eyes of Contemporary Female Artists – K & J Gallery

Under the title Muses in Tranquillity, this collaborative live ink art performance showcases the evolution of traditional Chinese ink art through a modern lens.

Featuring a large-scale artwork created by some of Hong Kong’s leading female ink artists, the project explores the fusion of Eastern and Western influences while highlighting themes of identity, resilience, and cultural pride. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to witness the creation process live, deepening their understanding and appreciation of contemporary ink art and its transformative power.

Courtesy of the artist

The ATM Project – Jackie Case

This playful and thought-provoking performance piece brings art and commerce into dialogue. Jackie Case’s Art Transfer Matrix (ATM) invites visitors to question the roles of creativity and execution in art-making while playfully addressing the commercialisation of the art world. Disguised as a functional ATM, the installation offers patrons the chance to purchase affordable, original artworks—perhaps their first piece—while sparking a conversation about the artist’s role in shaping meaning.

Courtesy of the artist

Young Heart, Burning Love – Xie Ke

Xie Ke’s Art Circle Sculpture 愛 Great Love embodies his signature blend of tradition and innovation. Drawing on his Hong Kong upbringing, Xie Ke merges Eastern and Western influences with contemporary materials like stainless steel and high-chromium steel. His minimalist yet powerful sculpture symbolises universal love and harmony, encouraging viewers to reflect on contemporary society and the timeless values that connect us all.

Courtesy of the artist

Art Fair Café – A Taste of the Local Neighbourhood

This specially curated café at the art fair brings the charm of Hong Kong’s local neighbourhoods to life. Visitors can relax in this designated zone while enjoying captivating illustration artworks by award-winning Hong Kong artist Pen So. Known for his intricate depictions of Hong Kong’s vibrant cityscapes and everyday moments, Pen So’s works provide a nostalgic and authentic glimpse into the heart of the city. With a cup of coffee in hand, immerse yourself in the artistry and atmosphere that celebrate the unique spirit of Hong Kong.

COLLABORATING WITH BRITISH CONSULATE TO CELEBRATE UK-HK CREATIVITY

This year, Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong will proudly collaborate with the British Consulate General Hong Kong to present an exciting cultural exchange between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong, celebrating the vibrancy of British creativity. A dedicated zone, GREAT Art, will highlight the diversity and vitality of British art and creativity. As a UK-born company, the fair continues to champion cross-cultural dialogue, highlighting the artistic synergy between the two regions.

Curated by Wong Ka Ying, a prominent local artist, curator, and writer, this partnership will shine a spotlight on British galleries and artists, showcasing the UK’s world-class creatives and its centuries-long heritage of arts and culture.

YOUNG TALENT HONG KONG: SHOWCASING EMERGING VOICES
IN CONTEMPORARY ART

Young Talent Hong Kong, curated by Peony Hung, explores the creative connections of five emerging artists in the exhibition Tiny Ensemble Turning. Through a diverse range of mediums and personal narratives, the show examines the layers of meaning embedded in materials and perspectives. A key highlight is the collaboration between Soho So and Todd Lam, co-founders of Pengguin, whose work creates a dynamic dialogue. Soho’s meticulously printed objects emphasize the relationship between surface and material, while Todd’s vibrant paintings, inspired by spontaneous interactions with his children, celebrate generational connections and shared creativity. Jason Chan’s Synthetic Horizon combines plastics and aluminium plates to construct pixelated sculptures that reflect his contemporary vision of the environment. Meanwhile, the printmaking of Aria Chan and Irene Lee offers a quieter, more reflective experience. Aria’s meditative works draw on personal stories, while Irene’s delicate observations of intimate spaces create a harmonious and poetic atmosphere, inviting viewers to connect with the beauty of quiet moments.

INSPIRING CREATIVITY FOR ALL AGES

The Affordable Art Fair has also partnered with Art Loop to offer educational art tours and workshops for children aged 4 to 12. These hour-long sessions introduce kids to art through gallery tours, hands-on projects, and critical thinking exercises. Led by skilled instructors, children will explore artistic styles, create mini art projects, and showcase their work at the fair.

Priced at $250 per child, the program includes a t-shirt, tour book, and materials. Sessions run four times daily on a first-come, first-served basis. After the tour, participants will create vibrant flower paintings inspired by live floral arrangements, taking home a unique keepsake of their experience.

An exclusive Saturday workshop led by award-winning Hong Kong illustrator Kitty N. Wong, presented by Young Soy Gallery, will take place from 2 PM to 4 PM. This one-time event allows attendees to participate at their convenience, with no prior registration required.

Renowned for her bold and dynamic fashion illustrations that capture the essence of haute couture, Kitty N. Wong’s work also reflects a deep connection to Hong Kong. Her illustrated stationery line celebrates the city’s rich culture and culinary heritage, serving as a vibrant artistic tribute to her hometown.

This workshop offers a rare opportunity to explore Kitty’s distinctive artistic methods and techniques in a creative and inspiring setting. It is an invitation to engage with the world of contemporary illustration and gain insight from one of Hong Kong’s most celebrated artists.

The Affordable Art Fair is excited to host an exclusive adult workshop led by acclaimed artist Eleanor McColl, a long-time exhibitor and member of the Hong Kong Arts Collective. Held at Creative Hub, the workshop offers participants a chance to create art under Eleanor’s guidance, complemented by a complimentary glass of wine for a relaxed and inspiring experience.

A key figure in the fair’s history, Eleanor has exhibited since its earliest editions, reflecting on her decade-long journey with the fair: “The past decade has flown by. I was pregnant with my third child at the first fair, and he turns 10 just before this year’s show.” Known for projects like the British Consulate Project: Love Letter in Hong Kong Special Project (2023), Eleanor brings her expertise and passion for community engagement to this intimate workshop.

TIMES CHANGE, MEMORIES REMAIN THE SAME

This year, the Affordable Art Fair (AAF) partners with the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) to present Century of Glory – Kai Tak, an exhibition celebrating the legacy of Hong Kong’s iconic Kai Tak Airport and surrounding tenement buildings. Featuring over 20 artworks by HKDI teachers and students from the Higher Diploma in Illustration Design programme, the exhibition blends traditional techniques with modern digital technology to reimagine Kai Tak’s architecture and history. This collaboration highlights HKDI’s exceptional talent and offers a creative perspective on Hong Kong’s urban heritage.

APPENDIX:

AFFORDABLE ART FAIR 2025 SCHEDULE

Media Tour

Thursday 22 May, 1pm – 2pm

VIP Preview (by invitation only)

Thursday 22 May, 2pm – 4pm

Opening Night

Thursday 22 May, 4pm – 9pm

Public Opening Hours

Friday 23 May, 12pm – 9pm

Saturday 24 May, 10pm – 7pm

Sunday 25 May, 10pm – 7pm