Last weekend, the sixth edition of Enter Art Fair opened its doors again, consolidating its status as Scandinavia’s largest international art fair. Once again, this year’s four-day event attracted numerous art enthusiasts, collectors, and professionals. It took place for the second time at the charming Lokomotivværkstedet, the former locomotive workshop of the Danish State Railways, in Copenhagen.
With 96 international galleries from 20 countries featuring over 350 artists, the fair offered a multifaceted presentation of contemporary art. 22 galleries were there for the first time. Ranging from painting, drawings, and photography to sculptures, video works, and digital art, the spectrum was broad, offering a rich selection for every art enthusiast. This year, I had the pleasure of visiting the fair again, eagerly searching for highlights for lovers of minimalist art. This year was no disappointment and I would like to share my personal highlights with you:
Already during my first tour, the monochrome and colorful works by Gwen Hardie at Chabot Fine Art caught my eye. The New York artist transforms flat canvases into vibrant, three-dimensional appearing paintings through her skillful play with colors and light.
Just a few booths away, Cadogan presented a group exhibition this year featuring works by Elise Ansel, Andreas Diaz Andersson, Nuria Maria, Richard Zinon, and Leonardo Anker Vandal, among others. I was particularly impressed by the works of Richard Zinon, whose paintings harmonized wonderfully with each other in their arrangement. The large-scale work “Composition 3” with its dark, monochromatic surface and delicate vertical brushstroke immediately captivated me. Due to its size, the artwork radiated an incredible sense of calm and appeared almost sublime. “Composition 10,” directly next to it, impressed with its dynamic black brushstrokes on a lighter background – a fascinating play of contrasts that was visually incredibly engaging.
I was also positively impressed by the works “Woman Reading II” and “Woman Reading VII” by the American artist Elise Ansel. Ansel translates paintings of Old Masters into a contemporary visual language, setting aside narrative and figurative elements. Her abstract, gestural brushstrokes and harmonious color choices in these new works create an impressive visual experience, bringing colors and forms to the forefront. Until now, I had only seen her works on screen, so it was a pleasure to be able to see it in person.
The Spanish gallery Alzueta presented a beautiful selection of several artists, such as Jordi Alcaraz, Aythamy Armas, Rala Choi and Enrich R.. I was particularly captivated by the large-format works by Enrich R.. His works are characterized by their simplicity, harmony, and formal beauty, exploring concepts like space and time. Through the skillful use of layering, muted colors, and subtle textures, he creates unique pieces that are both sensual and tense, calm yet powerful.
The fact that the Enter Art Fair not only supports well-known names in the art world, but also emerging talents, was once again emphasized this year by an expansion of the Young Galleries section. ARTCO Gallery from Berlin was one of the 19 galleries in this section. The gallery presented, among other positions, a fine selection of works by German artist Laura Sachs. In her reduced, abstract works, Sachs explores the boundaries between painting and object.
In her work “Noon01612C”, for example (see image below), Sachs used paint as a material component of the work. By pressing oil paint through the canvas, which is then turned over and re-stretched, she created a unique tactile surface. To emphasize the haptic quality and physicality of these works, Sachs also used paint particles and dust from her studio. The artist then added a thin powder-coated metal strip, transforming the canvas into a three-dimensional object.
The Danish gallery Weinberger Schandorff presented an outstanding selection of minimalist art, including sculptures and wall pieces by Rasmus Refer, Hans E. Madsen and Katrin Bremermann. The sculptures on display by Rasmus Refer, made of black Duvhult and Brännhult stone, offered a fascinating combination of heaviness and lightness through their abstract, dynamic forms.
The Enter Art Fair once again impressed with its relaxed atmosphere, professional organization, and a great selection of minimalist art. The diversity of the exhibited works and the first-class selection of galleries once again made the visit an inspiring experience. Despite the growing number of galleries, the fair manages to create a welcoming and familiar environment where each booth invites visitors to appreciate the presented art and engage with gallerists and artists. The Founder and CEO of the fair, Julie Leopold, has succeeded with her vision in transforming the Enter Art Fair into a creative and commercial hub of the global art industry in just six years.
I’m already looking forward to next year.
