TEFAF Maastricht, Affordable Art Fair NYC & What Collectors Are Buying Right Now

Summary

The technological revolution, and now AI, have transformed the way we create and present art. Today, artists are experimenting with all sorts of materials to create artworks that are not only a visual treat but also provoke all our senses. We can feel, touch, see, participate, hear, and sense art in ways previously unimaginable. Fairs such as TEFAF, the Affordable Art Fair, and biennials showcase brilliant works by both established and emerging artists — carefully selected individuals who strive to create something out of the ordinary. Today’s collectors and audiences are drawn to works that are not only visually striking but conceptually deep and emotionally resonant, whether in terms of history, the zeitgeist of the present era, or something that triggers a range of feelings.

Table of Content:

Transition from Traditional Aesthetics to Modern Ideas

Fairs in Focus

Art’s landscape has changed phenomenally in today’s eccentric world, if we may call it that. Earlier, the technological revolution, and now artificial intelligence, are making the world all the more peculiar than it already is. With conflict, geopolitical tensions, and societal norms exasperatingly altering, we are in the age of ambiguity. The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF) and the Affordable ART Fair NYC are two brilliant examples of how artists are redefining their artworks using different media to express their thoughts.

This has given rise to a new school of thought in art, where creation is no longer defined by colors and canvas but by the zeitgeist of the particular era. Digital sculptures by Turkish artist Refik Anadol , provocative art by American artist Jordan Wolfson , and experiential designs by Emirati Artist Saeed are some of the best examples of how art has evolved over time.

Contemporary art is taking a bare, nimble form. Conflict, politics, climate issues, and flights of wild imagination — whatever it is that stirs the heart of an artist — have become a reason for their creation. Today’s artists are shifting from traditional spiritual elements to something more experiential, away from the classical imagery.

This article takes a deep dive into current art-world trends, the kinds of art receiving appreciation, and what collectors are drawn to.

Transition from Traditional Aesthetics to Modern Ideas

Artists are shifting away from classical, religious, and purely aesthetic matter to abstract, digital, immersive, and socially engaging artworks. While paintings by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernardino Luini can never be erased from the art scene in its entirety, they have paved the way for something more than just for the eyes to see. Today, when viewing art, you are not just there for a visual treat, but there is a lot more going on. We never know when we step into an exhibition that immerses us in ways we never imagined.

Yayoi Kusama

Japanese avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama is an exceptional example. She stepped away from traditional aesthetics — such as landscapes, rivers, and flowers on plain white canvases — to create experiences that convey a message. Battling with mental health issues, she turned her struggles into groundbreaking art. She is a well-established name in the world of immersive installations. She uses the very same traditional aesthetic elements — such as the originary dots, flowers, and nature — into themes of infinity, repetition, and self-obliteration.

Kusama, for most of her life, struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, and even had hallucinations. But she never let that come in her way. She channels her inner agitation into artworks that speak of her and engage with people, who either themselves or through their loved ones, are suffering from the same conditions. Kusama creates meaningful art, and that is what has made her one of the top-selling female artists, who is always breaking records at auctions.

Kusama's works are a regular at the prestigious European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF). Beck & Eggeling reported selling Kusama work at TEFAF New York 2024 for a concealed price. Her 1999 painting “ Infinity Nets ” showcased by Galerie von Vertes at TEFAF Maastricht 2022, was sold for roughly $550,000–$600,000. Kusama’s works have fetched total auction sales of $58.77 million in 2024 alone. 

Kusama is a fine example showing an evolving trend toward experiential art designs, as collectors, artists, and audiences are becoming increasingly drawn to engaging artworks that resonate with them.

Anish Kapoor

Mumbai-born, UK-based artist Anish Kapoor is another such artist who never fails to grab the limelight for his extraordinary immersive installations. His large-scale sculptures explore space, reflection, and perception. Kapoor plays with different materials and is not confined to just one medium or sphere, as a matter of fact. His works can be made of PVS skins, mirrors, just oil paints, or even stones. He has a way of engaging a person with his artwork that many have been unable to master. His works often challenge rationality and perceptions through the interplay of elements he uses to create art pieces.

Anish Kapoor's work is a frequent presence at TEFAF (Maastricht and New York), often presented through galleries Lisson Gallery and Galleria Continua. His works often trigger a chain of thoughts, such as his latest creation Cloud Gate , a 33-foot-high, 66-foot-long, and 42-foot-deep elliptical sculpture. It is made of 168 welded stainless steel plates, designed to be a "gate" between the sky and the viewer. People initially called the sculpture, installed at Chicago’s Millennium Park, “The Bean,” taking from its resemblance. This didn't go well with Kapoor, who called the nickname "completely stupid."

Despite complex assembly — with the surface polished to mirror-like consistency to reflect the city’s skyline — the structure is engineered to look seamless. He basically wanted to create a bridge between the land and the sky through the cloud gate, triggering imagination and participation of the people.

Speaking of installation, experiential design, UAE-based event agency Sentient By Elysian (SBE) , is one such creative intelligence partner that always goes the extra mile to create out-of-the-ordinary experiences. Their digital sculpture gyroscope is a showstopper that nobody can miss. Their only goal is to represent the client’s vision through immersive, interactive, and visually striking installations. Take a look at their showstopping digital sculptures, modern design and immersive space they curated for IQ Real Estate at Cityscape Riyadh .

Kara Walker

New York-based artist Kara Walker’s works depict race, gender, sexuality, and violence via silhouetted figures . She is indeed one of the most influential and provocative artists who never refrains from highlighting the most provocative and sensitive issues, especially in American history.

Walker became famous in the mid‑1990s , particularly for her huge room–sized installations. Made from black cut‑paper silhouettes, her work depicted stark, often disturbing scenes from antebellum American history and stereotypes. Her works often force one to ponder upon brutal and unresolved issues of slavery, racism, and inequality.

Using a historically genteel medium, silhouettes, her works often raise a voice against the wrongdoings in society. But not only silhouettes, Walker’s first large-scale public project, “ A Subtlety, or the Marvelous Sugar Baby (2014)” was a colossal sugar‑coated sphinx‑like sculpture . About 35 feet tall and 75 feet long, the sculpture was shaped like a Black woman with features referencing the racist “mammy” archetype. A mammy is a U.S. historical stereotype that depicts women of African descent. These women were mostly slaves and were bought by the whites to not only look after their household but also work as nannies, hence the name “mammy.”

Fairs in Focus: TEFAF Maastricht & Affordable Art Fair NYC

With the arrival of March, often the harbinger of spring, TEFAF Maastricht becomes the talk of the town. This widely regarded world’s premier fair for fine arts showcases antiques, traditional artworks, immersive installations, experiential designs and much more by bringing together 7,000 years of art history under one roof. Featuring over 260 prestigious dealers from some 20 countries, TEFAF Maastricht is a showcase for the finest artwork currently on the market. 

It’s an artist’s dream to feature their works at TEFAF, a hub for art collectors, enthusiasts, shutterbugs and media. Paparazzi is always around the corner when the exhibition comes alive, as the works sold at the fair are auctioned in millions and millions of dollars.

Another massive exhibition that always manages to stay in the news is the Affordable Art Fair in New York City . While TEFAF is a platform for the finest of artists, the Affordable Art Fair is a platform for young and budding artists. It is an international contemporary art fair curated to make artworks accessible, hence the name “Affordable Art Fair.” The fair is held twice a year in venues in Chelsea, and a minimum of 12,000 people participate. Around 90 galleries book their spot at the fair, showcasing works of around 300 contemporary artists. Many big names have emerged from the fair over time, such as Juliette Vaissiere, Khae Haskell, and landscape painter Nathaniel Williams who have been gaining traction in recent years.

In A Brushstroke:

Gone are the days when artworks were only for the eyes to see and ponder. Today, the landscape has changed immensely. With platforms such as TEFAF Maastricht and the Affordable Art Fair NYC, artists now have the opportunity to showcase their unique creations on a global level. Experimenting with materials such as PVC, Anish Kapoor creates masterpieces that draw you in, such as his Cloud Gate . On the other hand, artists like Refik Anadol use machine intelligence to create digital art sculptures that raise awareness about climate change. While Kara Walker uses silhouettes to speak on feminism, Kusama channels her struggles to create enchanting, immersive installations that promote mental well-being. Art is no longer just about a paintbrush and canvas; it is about the overall experience that invites and engages the onlooker — and that is precisely what collectors are investing in, spending millions of dollars to acquire a Kusama creation or a Kapoor masterpiece.

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