Pick Me Up - Contemporary Graphic Art Fair - Opening Night

Last night, NextNoize.com were lucky enough to attend the opening of the UK's first contemporary graphic arts fair at Somerset House.

From April 23rd to May 3rd, Somerset House are hosting Pick Me Up, the UK's first graphic arts fair. Designed by Michael Marriott, the 11 day fair is a high energy, low budget showcase of established and emerging talent.

Every inch of space occupied for the fair really has been given a visual Pick Me Up. From their Come On In Corridors and staircases to the fair's visual identity designed by Anthony Burrill.

The gallery's backdrops and entrances leave you in no illusion as to what's in store- a vibrant, bold and most of all, fun presentation of 24 incredible artists and 9 print collectives to be reckoned with!

Peepshow collective are one of the 9 collectives who will be taking part in scheduled print-screening workshops too.

As you'd expect, there's a mixture of curiosities as well beautiful prints, fanzines and so much more, you'd fear you'd missed something.

But by far the most awe inspiring and fantastic feature of the fair, is Rob Ryan's temporary studio.

Adorned with the artist's painstaking paper-cut works, prints and bric-a-brac, Rob Ryan has lovingly moved into a space in Somerset House's Embankment Galleries for the duration of the fair.

Dubbed  "Ryantown," the space feels anything but a temporary studio, more like he's happily cut, scored and printed away in there for years. With half finished as well as completed work on studio desks and walls, Ryantown is like stepping into the mind of the man himself.

We carefully admired his work covering every centimeter of wall and every object in the room, while developing a bit of screen printing envy!

Rob Ryan's studio is without a doubt the highlight of Pick Me Up art fair- a world away from work displayed on a wall or plinth- even beyond an installation as we know it, this was an experience and insight into the way Rob Ryan works and thinks. So much so that the area had to be closed temporarily due to overcrowding- no surprise!

The fair gives you the opportunity to buy limited edition, affordable graphic art, illustration and design. Even the gift shop's worth visiting for our favourite Moleskines dressed in our favourite Pantone colours!

Pick Me Up is not to be missed. Visit from April 23rd to May 3rd, see here for more information!