History of the Fair: 38 Years of celebrating Original Prints

History


 

Founded in 1985 by a committee of eight print dealers, the London Original Print Fair took place in the old Diploma Galleries at the Royal Academy of Arts with just 16 exhibitors. Over 34 years at the RA, the Fair grew in size and stature, celebrating its 34th event in 2019 with 48 exhibitors.

 

In spring 2020, the Fair was forced to cancel due to the pandemic just weeks before it was scheduled to open. With art galleries and institutions worldwide closing their doors from the end of March we took the work of our exhibitors online and created individual viewing rooms and LOPF ONLINE: The Platform for Prints was born.

 

In 2021 we relocated to a new venue - the elegant galleries of Somerset House in the Strand, London.

 

The purpose of the Fair is to promote prints as collectable works of art. Printmaking has been instrumental in the development of art since the 15th century and the wide span of prints on sale at the Fair sets contemporary prints in their historical context.