What to see at the Atlanta Art Fair according to CurateHers ATL

Shannon Morris and Denise Jackson, founding members of CurateHers ATL, along with fellow members Natassha Chambliss, Kate Chesnutt Connell, Cynthia Farnell and Birney Robert, share their thoughts on navigating the 2025 Atlanta Art Fair (AAF).

“Last year, the Atlanta Art Fair brought enthusiasm and excitement to our city’s art ecosystem. This year, we are prepared for more,” said Morris. “A few of my colleagues who represent an informal group of female arts workers gather to support one another and Atlanta’s art world to inspire and support all who seek to find their way through the Atlanta Art Fair this week.”

CurateHers ATL suggests:

“As a member of the Public Programs Committee for the AAF, I suggest taking note of the Projects & Events, such as this year’s curatorial presentation by Melissa Messina, Third Ear, Second Skin: Krista Clark, Sonya Yong James and Vadis Turner,” said Morris, who serves as director of Spruill Gallery and a member of the Atlanta Art Fair Advisory Board. “Among my favorite AAF features are the Theater Programming and Events, which bring the best topics and the most intriguing speakers who offer insight for navigating the art world’s many paths.” 

Find Morris and the Atlanta Printmakers Studio Program Manager Kat Eaves at their collaborative Cultural Booth — CP 02 — to learn more about how Atlanta’s cultural spaces support the city’s artists. Their booth features affordable artworks by visual artists Hannah Adair, Manty Dey, Sarah Emerson, Charity Hammidullah, Diyah Najah and Jasmin Warnock, who will be in attendance over the course of the weekend.

Chambliss says art fairs play an important role by bringing artists and collectors together in one physical space. “They are an awesome place to begin building relationships with galleries and to meet many of the artists whose works are being presented. Most fairs have an education or conversational element. This gives the Fair visitors more insight into the arts,” said Chambliss. She recommends using rideshare services, making a spreadsheet of tours, discussions and exhibits to visit and suggests wearing comfortable shoes in order to facilitate a longer visit. 

“So much effort goes into putting on a fair, presenting the artists to this broad an audience and into creating the art,” Chambliss continued. “For all who are able — buy some art. We want to truly be patrons and make sure everyone knows what we know: That Atlanta collects and that great art lives and is available here!”

Chambliss said she is most excited to see the collaboration between Spruill and the Atlanta Printmakers Society, as both entities are sharing works from their Emerging Artists in Residency programs. 

“As a champion for the arts, I know how important it is to get behind artists early in their careers,” said Chambliss. “Residencies provide mentoring, tools and physical spaces to create, stipends and exhibitions. Artists have shared with me how residency opportunities yield a solid foundation for their paths forward in the arts. This is a must-visit booth; the works presented are remarkable.” Chambliss serves as board chair of the Atlanta Printmakers Studio, is a 2025 Atlanta Art Fair advisor and Host Committee member and is an independent curator and founder of The Chambliss Collection.

For Connell, founder of Labyrinth Curation, the significance of the Atlanta Art Fair starts at its accessibility as an entry point for all to experience a variety of artworks. “It is a place to be inspired, entertained and immersed in creativity,” said Connell. “While most works are available for purchase, the real focus is on exploration and engagement — discover what captures your imagination, ask questions and connect with both the art and the community around you.” She also said one of her highlights this year is the Balentine Prize, which will be awarded to an artist from Atlanta or the greater American South who shows exceptional promise. “As you wander through the galleries, pick your favorites and see if the judges share your eye,” Connell suggested.

“If you are new to art appreciation and art collecting, the Atlanta Art Fair can be a casual, fun place to explore what you like,” said Farnell, owner and curator of Cynthia Farnell Projects, an East Atlanta gallery that focuses on sculpture and works on paper. “An approach for new collectors is to concentrate on works on paper such as photography and printmaking. Both mediums have a long history in Atlanta and as such have generated galleries and organizations devoted to them,” said Farnell. She currently serves as gallery director and is on the faculty at the Ernest G. Welch School of Art & Design at Georgia State University. High on her list of must-see exhibitions are the Jackson Fine Art and Atlanta Photography Group booths, which feature photographic works, plus the Atlanta Printmaker’s Studio and Spruill collaborative booth. 

Jackson, founder of Town + Culture and independent curator and art consultant, acknowledged that many people are still unfamiliar with the Atlanta Art Fair. “While it’s regional, it holds its own alongside fairs in New York, Miami or abroad,” Jackson said. “For Atlanta’s art community, this matters. It brings together 70 galleries under one roof, creates visibility for our city’s artists and offers collectors the chance to engage with national and international voices without leaving town. Visitors who traveled last year remarked on the strength and authenticity of Atlanta’s galleries — a sign of how the fair is putting our city’s visual arts scene on the map.” 

Jackson advised visitors to allocate plenty of time to explore and try to slow down as they move through the space to really enjoy the works on display. She asserted that purchasing art from the Fair is another way to ensure that it is successful and returns year after year, further entrenching the city as a serious cultural hub. 

“One installation I’ll make a point to see is Between You and Me (2010) by Micah and Whitney Stansell, presented by Flux Projects,” said Jackson, who first witnessed the five-channel video installation during its premiere in 2010. She describes seeing it at the Fair as a full-circle moment. “I’ll also be in the theater on Friday, where three back-to-back panels stand out: Photography as Discovery: Villa Albertine Artists in Residence in Atlanta and Marseille; Hollywood of the South; and Visionary Women Curators of the American South. Each highlights different ways Atlanta connects to broader cultural conversations.”

Robert is an artist, curator, art consultant and strategist and also serves as director of external engagement for the Office of the Associate Vice Provost for the Arts at Georgia Tech. Robert said that she is particularly excited to see how this year’s guest curator, Melissa Messina, brings her unique curatorial perspective to the programming. “It’s also an honor to have Nato Thompson as the fair’s creative director, whose vision continues to push boundaries in contemporary art,” said Robert. 

“Art fairs matter because they create a concentrated moment where the art community converges to celebrate creativity, exchange ideas and reflect on the cultural and economic value of the arts. They highlight how art enriches our well-being, fosters dialogue and fuels the creative economy. In essence, art fairs are a testament to the power of the city’s art economy and how art connects, inspires and sustains,” said Robert. Beyond the art on display, the theater programs and panels add context and depth to the Fair’s presence in the city and the city’s standing as an arts and cultural hub.

Another good idea is to bring business cards or a way to share your contact information digitally; fairs offer a great networking opportunity for artists, curators and collectors. “Don’t be shy about chatting with gallery reps or artists,” she asserted. “They’re there to share their work and insights, and conversations can lead to unexpected inspiration or connections.” 

High on Robert’s list of recommendations is Charlotte-based TFA Advisory’s booth, which will be presenting works by Qualeasha Wood. “I first encountered Wood’s work at Miami Art Basel, where her fusion of digital imagery and traditional textile techniques left a lasting impression,” said Robert. “Her return to Atlanta is exciting, especially following her recent presentation in the High Museum’s Giants exhibit, which featured the art collection of Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz.” 

Additionally, Robert says that Micah and Whitney Stansell’s large-scale immersive works should be on everyone’s radar. “Their ability to weave memory, narrative and visual storytelling into expansive installations is truly remarkable,” Robert continued. “I’m especially eager to see what this duo brings to the fair. Flux Projects consistently champions innovative and immersive experiences, and the Stansells’ contribution promises to be no exception.”

Jackson said the Atlanta Art Fair serves an important role in establishing the city on a global map for the arts. “As curators, we engage across public and private spaces and with artists and collectors, shaping how people experience art,” she explained. “An art fair is more than a marketplace; it is a place where artists gain visibility, galleries broaden their reach and audiences encounter new ideas. The Atlanta Art Fair offers these opportunities, and we hope you’ll join us in fostering meaningful connections and experiencing great art along the way.” 

The 2025 Atlanta Art Fair opens Thursday, September 25, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the festivities will continue throughout the weekend. Additional hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, September 26, and Saturday, September 27, plus Sunday, September 28, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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Isadora Pennington is senior editor of art + design and dance. An experienced writer and photographer with a deep love for the arts, Isadora founded the Sketchbook newsletter with Rough Draft Atlanta in 2022. She is also president of the Avondale Arts Alliance and director of the Avondale Arts Center.