Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair

Next month sees the return of the Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair, eschewing the usual car boot fare of incomplete jigsaws, ropey teddy bears and potentially life-threatening electrical goods for far classier wares.

Patrick Thomas - Cock Up
Patrick Thomas – Cock Up

The annual event sees contemporary artists flock to the site in east London to get their hands dirty and personally sell their works, which typically range in price from £10 to £1000.

Kristjana Williams -  Andy Audubon CMYK
Kristjana Williams – Andy Audubon CMYK

This year’s crop of more than 70 artists includes Sir Peter Blake, Pure Evil, Bob & Roberta Smith, Gavin Turk, Mat Collishaw and Billy Childish.

Idler Academy Manifesto print
Idler Academy Manifesto print

Blake, who has been involved with the fair since its inception ten years ago, will be creating a special print to celebrate the event reaching double figures. The prints will be limited to a run of 110 in a nod to Vauxhall’s 110th birthday, and all proceeds raised from their sale will go to charities Just For Kids Law, Kids Company and Help For Heroes.

Malika Favre - Kama Sutra Alphabet
Malika Favre – Kama Sutra Alphabet

Blake says, ‘I first read about the Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair in the paper and found out it was happening that day. I had created a limited edition of 30 wood engravings, so we found a box, went along and sold the lot. Since then I’ve been involved every year; it’s a clever way to make art accessible and affordable to everyone.  

‘I always look forward to seeing what Gavin Turk will do on the day as well as Tracey Emin, Polly Morgan, Bob and Roberta Smith – it’s a bit of a reunion every year!’

Jaime Winstone and Pam Hogg at the Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair 2012
Jaime Winstone and Pam Hogg at the Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair 2012

While not to everyone’s taste, one of this year’s pieces to look out for is Marcus Harvey’s 2009 work Maggie, a rather frightening monochrome depiction of Thatcher formed from ephemera including guns, skulls and various body parts….

Marcus Harvey - Maggie 2009
Marcus Harvey – Maggie 2009

For some more lighthearted entertainment, visitors can try their luck at Bernie Katz’s Bingo session, unwrap the layers of the pass the parcel japes or feast on some ‘food art’, thanks to Animal Vegetable Mineral.

Pure Evil Double Exposure
Pure Evil Double Exposure

As ever, it’s set to be something of a frenzied event, so you’re advised to get down early to be in with a chance of setting foot inside what organisers describe as the somewhat ominous-sounding ‘maddest, eye-poppingly fabulous Vauxhall Art Car Booter to date’.

Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair takes place on 9 June from 12 – 6pm at Brick Lane Yard, Corner of Brick Lane and Buxton Street, London E1. Tickets are available on the door for £5.

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