Kiaf SEOUL 2024
Kiaf 2023. Image courtesy of Kiaf
Kiaf SEOUL announces the exhibitors for its 2024 edition in September 2024.
Kiaf SEOUL – Korea’s leading international art fair – will bring together 207 galleries from across the world for its 2024 edition
36 galleries from such cities as Bangkok, Beijing, London, Madrid, New York, Rome, Seoul, Sydney, Tehran, Tokyo, and more will participate in the fair for the first time
With more than 130 domestic galleries, the fair will provide a lens into the diversity of today’s dynamic art scene in Korea
· In addition to Hall A and B of COEX, the fair will expand to The Platz area on the second floor, which will host a special exhibition and selected galleries in Kiaf PLUS, the sector dedicated to emerging artists and new media
· Kiaf SEOUL 2024 will take place at COEX from September 5 to 8, 2024, with a VIP preview on September 4
– The Galleries Association of Korea announces the exhibitor list for Kiaf SEOUL’s 2024 edition in September, featuring 207 galleries from 21 countries and territories. Continuing its goal to showcase modern and contemporary Korean art on an international scale, Kiaf 2024 will showcase over 130 galleries from Korea, providing an overview of the country’s vibrant art scene and newest developments. 36 galleries will participate for the first time, including 193 Gallery (Paris), Albarran Bourdais (Madrid), Bavan Gallery (Tehran), Crossing Art (New York), dR (Seoul), EGG Gallery (Beijing), Ethan Cohen Gallery (New York), gallerykabinett (Seoul), Lechbinska Gallery (Zurich), Olympia (New York), PIERMARQ* (Sydney), SNOW Contemporary (Tokyo), WOAW Gallery (Hong Kong), and more.
Leading galleries in Korea will return to the main Kiaf GALLERIES section of this year’s fair, including Arario Gallery (Seoul, Cheonan), BHAK (Seoul), Gana Art (Seoul, Busan), Gallery Hyundai (Seoul), Hakgojae Gallery (Seoul), Johyun Gallery (Busan), Keumsan Gallery (Seoul), Kukje Gallery (Seoul, Busan), Leeahn Gallery (Seoul, Daegu), PKM Gallery (Seoul), PYO Gallery (Seoul), Wooson Gallery (Daegu), and more. The fair will also showcase a lineup of leading international galleries, such as Art Front Gallery (Tokyo), Carl Kostyál (London), Carvalho Park (New York), Cassina Projects (Milan), DIE GALERIE (Frankfurt), Jan Murphy Gallery (Brisbane), Lucie Chang Fine Arts (Hong Kong), Galerie Marguo (Paris), Peres Projects (Berlin, Milan, Seoul), Sundaram Tagore Gallery (New York), Tang Contemporary Art (Beijing, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Seoul), Whitestone Gallery (Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo), Yumiko Chiba Associates (Tokyo) and more.
Dal-Seung Hwang, President of the Galleries Association of Korea, commented, "Following a series of expansions in recent years – such as the launch of our partnership with Frieze, debut of the Kiaf PLUS section, introduction of special exhibitions, and the updated floorplan incorporating the Grand Ballroom of COEX – this year we made a concerted effort to elevate the quality of the fair overall. One of the key aspects that sets this year’s edition apart is the remarkable influx of new participants and the broad international diversity they bring. At the same time, over 60% of our participating galleries are Korean, reinforcing our stature as the leading art fair in Korea. We are excited to present the vibrant and dynamic Korean art scene to global collectors, solidifying our reputation on the world stage."
Several galleries will present booths by a single artist in Kiaf SOLO, including J.P. Art Center (Kaohsiung) with Chang Teng-Yuan, who has been using the concept of "apocalyptic archaeology" to create a virtual narrative of the apocalypse; La Causa Art Gallery (Madrid) with Imon Boy, an anonymous graffiti artist whose work dismantles the stereotyped image of the insolent graffiti artist and conveys a tender and ironic vision of what it means to paint the streets illegally; WOAW Gallery (Hong Kong) with Charlie Roberts, best known for his elongated figures with seemingly impossible long limbs, featuring a cast of humans, animals, and hybrid creatures enacting bizarre, surreal scenarios; OBSCURA (Seoul) with Hodeuk Kim, a Korean master of ink-based painting whose career spans over four decades; and Olympia (New York) with Lee Maxey, whose egg matte tempera paintings often depict mundane objects vibrantly executed with meticulous detail and profound narrative depth.
Following a successful second iteration in 2023, Kiaf PLUS will return this year with 27 galleries whose presentations will focus on works by emerging artists and galleries. For its 2024 edition, Kiaf PLUS will feature a newly expanded format that sees the section spread across both the fair’s main exhibition halls and new venue, The Platz, at COEX. Galleries in Kiaf PLUS include 333Gallery (Bangkok), biscuit gallery (Tokyo), La Heen Gallery (Seoul), LKIF Gallery (Seoul), MAAT Gallery (Paris), SARAHCROWN New York (New York), The Spectacle Group (Hong Kong), THEO (Seoul), ThisWeekendRoom (Seoul), WE COLLECT (Madrid), and YOD Tokyo (Osaka) among others.
Special Exhibition: Kiaf onSITE
For its 2024 edition, Kiaf will present a special exhibition, Kiaf onSITE, curated by multimedia specialist Seungah Lee, Director of Urban Art Lab in Seoul. Leveraging her extensive background and expertise at the nexus of technology, society, and art, Lee’s curation examines the relationship between human nature and technology. The exhibition is in three sections under the theme of “Invisible Transitions” focusing on alternative narratives emerging from the multi-layered changes brought by technology, such as decentralization, transboundary interactions, and hyper-connectivity. Section 1 features large-scale media installations by prominent Korean media artist Yang Min-ha, who reexamines the essence of humanity and our relationship with non-human entities through AI-based systems. Also featured in the section is Wonjung Choi, who explores multiculturalism and heterogeneity through installations inspired by her own migration experiences. In Section 2, audiences will be treated to boundary-transcending experimental performances by the artist duo Jin & Park, while Kat Austen further engages them through interactive experiences, where wearable technology responds to diverse spatial movements. Meanwhile, section 3 showcases virtual reality (VR) space titled “The WONDER” proposing the notion of a hyper-connected society in the future, presented by Winslow Porter, Marlene Bart, and Bosul Kim.
Kiaf Highlights
The Kiaf Highlights initiative will highlight 10 emerging and mid-career artists exhibiting at Kiaf under the theme ‘New Discoveries & Fresh Encounters.’ In the lead up to the fair week, Kiaf will introduce the 10 semi-finalists on its social media and publish interviews and features with them on its website and catalogue. During the fair, a jury of professors, curators, and institutional experts will select three finalists from Kiaf Highlights, who will each be awarded KRW 10 million.
Talks Program in association with Frieze Seoul and Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS)
Once again, Kiaf, Frieze Seoul, and KAMS will collaboratively present a Talks Program at Studio 159 within COEX, comprised of 9 individual panel discussions. Renowned opinion leaders from the global art industry will be invited to present various discourses focused on the art market and the art ecosystem. Further details will be released in the coming weeks.
2024 Korea Art Festival
Kiaf will further enrich its offerings by aligning with the 2024 Korea Art Festival, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. This collaboration will amplify Kiaf’s role in showcasing Korean art to the global stage, establishing meaningful connections between art and society on both a citywide and national scale. Reflecting the festival's goal of fostering a global art celebration, Kiaf partners with major art museums and cultural institutions nationwide. It also coordinates with concurrent events such as the Gwangju Biennale and Busan Biennale, creating a vibrant space where commercial and non-profit exhibitions intersect. Additionally, the Gallery Nights, featuring participation from local exhibitors of Kiaf and local art institutions, will offer extended exhibition hours and networking opportunities. This program will take place from September 3-5 in the districts of Hannam, Samcheong, and Cheongdam.
Once again, Frieze Seoul will take place at Halls C and D of COEX, in partnership with the Galleries Association of Korea and concurrent to Kiaf SEOUL.
For the full list of exhibitors at Kiaf SEOUL 2024, please visit here.
Notes to Editors
About Kiaf SEOUL
Founded in 2002 by the Galleries Association of Korea, Kiaf SEOUL is South Korea's first international art fair. Today, the fair serves as a unique meeting point that bridges the Korean art scene and the international art market, showcasing over 200 galleries each year. For more information, please visit https://kiaf.org/ and follow us on Instagram.
About the Galleries Association of Korea
The Galleries Association of Korea was founded in 1976 with a mission to facilitate broader and deeper appreciation of art in Korea, contribute to fostering a healthy art market, and to advance Korean art on an international stage. Today, the Association – consisting of more than 160 galleries nationwide – organizes art fairs (Kiaf and Galleries Art Fair) and operates The Art Appraisal Committee and The Art Policy Research Centre.
Opening Dates & Hours
Kiaf SEOUL 2024
COEX 1F, Hall A & B; 2F The Platz (513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul)
VIP Preview (by invitation only):
Wednesday, September 4, 2024, 11am to 3pm (Kiaf VIP cardholders only)
Wednesday, September 4, 2024, 3pm to 7pm (Kiaf or Frieze VIP cardholders)
Thursday, September 5, 2024, 11am to 3pm (Kiaf or Frieze VIP cardholders, Preview passholders)
General Admission:
Thursday, September 5, 2024, 3pm to 7pm
Friday, September 6, 2024, 11am to 7pm
Saturday, September 7, 2024, 11am to 7pm
Sunday, September 8, 2024, 11am to 6pm
For more information about the fair, please visit Kiaf’s site here. Kiaf can also be found on Instagram and Facebook.
