ABOUT US
INTRODUCING StART KX:
Since its founding in 2014, StART has helped to springboard the careers of many emerging artists from around the globe. We are excited to share our vision of the future.
StART celebrated its 10th anniversary at Saatchi Gallery, London 11-15 October 2023. Now a decade later StART has relocated to an incredible space within the Town Hall situated across from the iconic and bustling creative technology hub Kings Cross, St Pancras, now known simply as KX.
The move heralds a bold new era of expansion for StART KX and which will present leading and emerging artists, curated spaces and galleries, showcased in this atmospheric and versatile new Central London location during October’s Frieze Week.
The dynamic and expansive programme includes artist presentations, gallery booths, sculpture and installation works, an area dedicated to digital art, plus guest exhibitions and StART Solo curated booths with diverse works spanning painting, photography, specially commissioned murals and more.
A VIP programme will include StART Salons, a series of special collector previews and intimate talks which will be hosted in the Town Hall’s beautifully presented apartment-style spaces at the front of the building, plus intimate champagne receptions held in the VIP and press lounge on the mezzanine floor of the breathtaking grand ballroom area with opportunities to meet some of the participating artists and take bespoke walking tours of the Fair hosted by StART KX guest curators.
The first edition of StART KX in its new home promises to be an uplifting experience that truly celebrates art and creativity allowing visitors to get to know what is behind the creative drive of the exhibitors, what makes them tick, and how their work relates to the overarching themes of the zeitgeist.
PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS SO FAR CONFIRMED
Charlotte And Philip Colbert
Pop artist Philip Colbert and artist and filmmaker Charlotte Colbert will each present their large scale iconic symbols in the Town Hall’s grand ballroom. Charlotte, described as the lovechild between Emily Dickinson and Salvador Dali and Philip, dubbed the Godson of Andy Warhol, will have their respective Eye and Lobster symbols filling the stage. In addition they will present a selection of derivative and affordable editions and artworks.
StART KX will once again present the annual Ciclitira Prize, in partnership with The King’s Foundation (formerly the Prince’s Foundation). The Prize is awarded to artists from the School of Traditional Arts annual Degree Show, which showcases individuals whose practice is focused on traditional art forms. As commercial partner for the King’s Foundation, StART KX enables the winning artists chosen from the MA course to present their work within the commercial setting of the Fair. This year, The King’s Foundation will present an Alumni exhibition inspired by the great art traditions of the world. This year’s graduating students have exhibited an ambitious range of work including Etruscan Bucchero tiles, Ukrainian folk painting, Orthodox iconography, intricate wood inlay, Western illumination and calligraphy, Persian and Indian miniatures, exploratory polyhedral structures of varying scales and Islamic geometry.
Piers Secunda - Smoke In The Forest
Piers Secunda, who is best known for his work examining the destruction of culture, has been working for several months on a series of ink paintings, which portray sunlight shining through smoke in the jungle. The ink he is using for these paintings has been produced from charcoal gathered by UK charity Migrate Art, from illegal fires set by farmers and loggers in the Amazon rainforest. The works are being sold to raise money for the tribal leaders of the Xingu Reserve in the Brazilian Amazon, who need fire- fighting equipment to put out the fires the reserve.
"For years I have been making my own inks, using the rust of the 9/11 steel beams, and charcoal from the ISIS burned Mosul Museum, for example, so when Migrate Art asked if I could participate in this Amazon rainforest project, I leapt at the opportunity. Since I was a teenager, I have been fascinated and intrigued by the "hiding tribes" of the Amazon. The main fundraiser organised by Migrate Art ended in March, so I'm the only artist who is still using the ink to raise money for Migrate Art to buy the firefighting kit, for the Xingu Reserve. I can't think of a better use for my art, than to help protect the Xingu community, and the rainforest which releases the largest volume of the world's oxygen."
In a world exclusive, photographer Rick Guest will unveil his collection Holy Relics. Shot with exceptional technique, these high-resolution large format fine art prints showcase objects that have profoundly shaped our collective cultural history. From Lord Byron’s dip pen to Ernest Hemingway’s first typewriter, Charles Darwin’s walking cane to Sir Peter Blake’s iconic hand-painted bass drumskin used on the front cover of the Beatles’ ground-breaking 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Guest’s portfolio presents these storied objects with the reverence they deserve. The collection features the gun used to assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand to the last microphone Amy Winehouse ever recorded on, moon dust from Apollo 11, Sir Paul McCartney’s Hofner bass, Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here mastertape, and the pens and quills of Charles Dickens and TS Elliot.
Artist Alex Mayhew debuts his Bowie Bots, a series of original artworks inviting the viewer to imagine the new personas David Bowie would have embraced in his immortal existence through a series of cybernetic resurrections. Renowned for transcending conventional identities through his innate ability for fluid change, David Bowie defied the confines of the mortal realm, transcending time and space. Infused with Bowie’s diverse interests, passions, and experiences, his spirit serves as the guarding force in the exploration of the ever-evolving nature of self. Simultaneously, the project contemplates the enigmatic nature of our existence and consciousness, exploring the implications of emergent technologies on human identity. It confronts the timeless question: are we merely intricate biological machines shaped by genetic programming and life experiences?
Wells Tempest - Mound of Creation
Rita Nowak - Camenae
Also confirmed is a duo presentation from artists Wells Tempest and Rita Nowak. Wells Tempest is a self-taught British sculptor whose enigmatic wood and bronze sculptures are influenced by nature, ancient cultures and mythology, particularly Egyptian and Meso- American. Geometry and mathematic formulae are recurrent throughout his work, making use of naturally occurring geometric forms, vortices and the Fibonacci sequence Rita Nowak is an established Austrian artist who uses staged photography as her medium. Her approach is painterly, often referencing old masters such as Bosch, Goya and Vermeer. A strong sense of visual metaphor runs through her work, and the mise-en-scène and symbolism are often authentically linked to those depicted.
Las Vegas-based artist Matthew Samson, renowned for his signature meteorite-based works, will make his UK debut at StART KX, showcasing his celestial sculptural and canvas works. His fascination with meteorites serves as the cornerstone of his artistic expression and has garnered the attention of blue-chip collectors in the US. Inspired by the universe's interconnectedness, Samson incorporates meteorite dust into his art, symbolising the cosmic origins of life. Meteorites, estimated to be over 4 billion years old, offer a tangible connection to our shared cosmic heritage.
David Aimone - Body Suite No. 14
American photographer David Aimone transcends traditional techniques, using alternative methods to craft his meticulously composed images. Each of his photographs holds a subtle, silent power, inviting viewers to see beyond the surface. Aimone’s artistic philosophy is deeply rooted in his musical background. Drawing parallels between music and photography, he strives to make artistic images that unfold like beautifully crafted symphonies. Aimone often works with natural light to find beauty in subjects ranging from people to landscapes. Using old lenses, various types of film, and exploring image production through digital manipulation to handcrafted prints are all part of his creative repertoire. This will be Aimone’s UK art fair debut.
Justin Dingwall - When I Look at the Sky
Justin Dingwall - When I Look at the Sky
Justin Dingwall is a boundary-pushing photographer and artist from South Africa. He uses nuance in his work as a driving force to create visual narratives. His imagery resonates with human perspective; the pieces come alive with subtle symbolism and metaphors that evoke what it means to be human. Dingwall’s depictions challenge perceptions and provoke thought, making him a force in the contemporary art world, attracting praise from the likes of CNN and Vogue. More recently, Dingwall has integrated textiles into his practice and in October the artist will unveil a new, textile-based mural envisioned especially for the StART KX exhibition, as well as presenting a wider series of works.
Sculpture highlights include a solo presentation from Egyptian-born British Sam Shendi, whose artistic journey has taken him from the streets of Cairo to the serene landscapes of North Yorkshire where he creates his abstract figurative sculptures. Shendi's stainless steel formations explore the essence of the human experience whilst transcending traditional figurative approaches and sculptural materials. Shendi’s artwork was most recently presented in dialogue with Henry Moore’s sculpture at Alon Zakaim Fine Art in Mayfair.
Graeme Messer is a multi-disciplinary artist living and working in London. Drawing on a background in theatre, Graeme interweaves visual art with performance, photography, assemblage, the written word and AI to create art that is direct, funny, moving, uncomfortable and unashamedly autobiographical. Messer will present his joyful photographic series Red Love at StART KX.
The Fair is partnering with media and events specialist Christabel Milbanke to introduce StART after Dark, an exciting new addition to the 2024 edition. A week-long program of events will fuse art and music, featuring live performances from an eclectic selection of bands.
"I'm very excited to be brought into StART 2024 in its 11th year at the magnificent Town Hall. I believe the launch of 'StART after DARK' will add an energetic dimension to the art fair and entice a new audience looking for art-based experiential affairs.” - Christabel Milbanke
“I believe that there is a great potential for art and music to live together and I am certain that ‘StART after DARK’ will appeal to our collectors who are involved in both worlds. This week London attracts the eyes of the international art world - StART’s new venue at the Town Hall KX offers the perfect location for our “after DARK” events program, which will be open to art lovers from all over.” - David Ciclitira
Full details of the programming confirmed to date can be found on the StART KX website. More global artists will be announced in the run-up to the Fair, with the full programme unveiled in September.
INTRODUCING THE StART JOURNAL
StART JOURNAL is a new publication that introduces you to the participating artists at the Fair and provides insight into their various creative practices. Published from 1 August and featuring interviews and thematic articles related to the ever-changing landscape of contemporary art, StART JOURNAL is a luxury companion to the Fair that celebrates creativity and announces the bold relocation of StART art fair to the Town Hall.
A DECADE OF GLOBAL CULTURE
In 2015, StART brought international art sensation teamLab to the UK for the first time. In 2017, the fair hosted Liu Bolin’s first live performance. The fair featured a standout installation from internationally acclaimed artist Lucy Sparrow in 2021.
In 2022, over 15,000 people came to explore StART’s showcase of 100 artists from countries including South Africa, Ecuador, Portugal, Colombia, India, Austria, Korea, Thailand and Ireland. StART is a truly global art fair.
StART founder Serenella Ciclitira comments, “the move to King’s Cross marks a bold new chapter for StART as we further expand our horizons and look to some of the world’s most interesting and pioneering creatives. This stunning new venue provides exhibitors with an incredible new platform in the heart of creative London.”
Co-founder David Ciclitira continues, “we have always been a fair that focuses on spotlighting the most dynamic and evolving art markets and creating an atmosphere of genuine discovery and excitement. We are looking forward to continuing this mission in such a prestigious new London venue and with an exceptional new team.
Soon to open Town Hall by Bottaccio will be a new exciting space within Camden Town Hall, providing a hub for this vibrant area of central London. Set in the middle of the greatest innovation and knowledge cluster in the world, the listed building will remain the 'beating heart' of this vibrant district, a Town Hall reimagined. KX is the energetic home to the headquarters of industry-leading global giants, such as Google, LVMH and Facebook, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, JP Morgan, Deloitte, Universal Music, YouTube, and many more. It has firmly established itself as the most exciting location for progressive businesses in London. Town Hall by Bottaccio has been comprehensively updated and future-proofed with an elegance that elevates its surroundings, and it is set to become both a unique global destination, and one of the most sought-after venues for culture and events in the capital.
The Town Hall has been comprehensively updated and future-proofed with an elegance that elevates its surroundings, and it is set to become both a unique global destination, and one of the most sought- after venues for culture and events in the capital.
THE FOUNDERS: StART art fair was founded by David and Serenella Ciclitira.
David and Serenella Ciclitira are passionate collectors of contemporary art and are dedicated supporters of young and emerging artists and the global art scene.
For more than 25 years David and Serenella awarded the Parallel Prize and the Serenella Ciclitira Sculpture Prize to graduates of the Royal College of Art, London. Additionally, since 2014, the Ciclitira Prize has been presented annually to one graduate of The Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts, London.
On a 2007 business trip to Karlsruhe, Germany, David and Serenella attended an art exhibition; Termocline of Art: New Asian Waves which left them with a thirst to learn more about the Asian contemporary art scene but were thwarted by a lack of material on the subject. In 2009 they founded Parallel Contemporary Art (PCA) and launched the Global Eye Programme.
In January 2014 the Global Eye Awards were launched and held annually until 2017. In 2020 the awards were re-launched and presented annually until 2023.
Previous Eye projects include;
- Korean Eye: Moon Generation presented by Standard Chartered (2009)
- Korean Eye: Fantastic Ordinary presented by Standard Chartered (2009-2010)
- Korean Eye: Energy & Matter presented by Standard Chartered (2011)
- Indonesian Eye: Fantasies and Realities presented by Prudential (2011)
- Korean Eye 2012 presented by Standard Chartered (2012)
- Korean Eye Singapore (2010), New York (2011) and Abu Dhabi (2012)
- Hong Kong Eye presented by Prudential (2012)
- Malaysian Eye presented by Prudential (2014)
- Singapore Eye presented by Prudential (2015)
- Thailand Eye presented by Prudential (2015)
- Vietnam Eye presented by AIA (2017)
- Korean Eye 2020: Creativity & Daydream presented by Hana Bank (2020-2021)