In advance of the Pick Me Up fair launching this Friday April 23 at Somerset House, ARTS THREAD talks to the curator Claire Catterall about the designers showing, special events and how it all started.

ARTS THREAD: Why did you decide to create a graphic art and illustration fair?

Claire Catterall: We wanted to bring the best contemporary graphic art under one roof in central London. The industry is very much centered around East London and we wanted to create an opportunity for the public to see all the amazing work that is being produced. The original idea was born out of the growth of independent collectives and individual artists who are bypassing the traditional gallery system and setting up by themselves. There has also been a real resurgence of interest in screen printing and we wanted to offer the public the chance to experience it first-hand.

AT: How did you choose the exhibitors?

CC: We’ve invited a selection of collectives and galleries to set up a ‘world of themselves’ rather than the usual bland ‘shop’ or a ‘stand’ you get at fairs. As well as working on their own, they’ll be asking other designers and artists they know to come in and work with them on live printing projects. For example, Print Club London will be inviting established artists, such as Morag Myserscough, Scott King, Michael Johnson, Jonathan Barnbrook and up-and-coming designers to produce a limited edition print in their print studio inside the exhibition. These prints will then be for sale exclusively at the fair.

There is also an exhibition of work from the most interesting up-and-coming graphic artists. These designers were chosen by a panel of industry insiders which included Patrick Burgoyne, editor of Creative Review, Agharad Lewis, editor of Grafik Magazine and Liz Farrelly, a graphic design writer and editor.

AT: How important was the international aspect of the up-and-coming designers and artists?

CC: Pick Me Up will bring together affordable graphic art by the best international graphic artists and designers available to buy at a major central London venue. With artists coming from all over Europe, USA, Japan and Argentina, the exhibition will give an extensive overview on recent developments in graphic art and illustration representing the most interesting work around today.

AT: Do you see the fair becoming an annual event?

CC: Yes we’d love it to become an annual event!

AT: How would you describe the visitor profile – who are the visitors?

CC: Obviously, the fair will be great for the graphic design community; it’s a great opportunity for them to meet and exchange ideas and perhaps work with one another together, we are hoping some exciting new project might come out of the fair.

It’s really important to us to bring in audiences who might be more unfamiliar with contemporary graphic art. There is a growing interest in graphic design and illustration and this fair aims to open it up to them as much as to the creative community.

AT: Do you have any special events for graphic/illustration students?

CC: One of the highlights of the fair will be the Glug event taking place on Wednesday 28 April which sees a special late-night opening of the Pick Me Up. Glug is a successful networking event for the creative community, is bringing together fantastic talent including design legend Jonathan Barnbrook as well as Chrissie Macdonald, Mr Bingo, Jiggery Pokery and Emily Forgot to talk about 5 favourite things that inspire and inform their work. There will also be DJs, VJs and a bar, so it should be a really fun evening.

Also, paper cutting maestro Rob Ryan will be hosting an open studio throughout the entire run of the fair, relocating his paper cutting studio and printing presses from his studio in East London so that visitors can follow his entire creative process. This would be a great opportunity to meet Rob and see his work in progress.

Finally, there will be the Boniface Portraits Adult Workshop on Thursday evening 29 April, where you can join designer Clementine Mitchell to create portraits made entirely from different fonts and letter stamps.

Pick Me Up runs from April 23 to May 03 at Somerset House, London.
For more information on the fair and to book tickets please visit Pick Me Up

Image credits left to right, top to bottom: Hvass & Hannibal, Caribbean Delight, Solo show at MOHS exhibit, Copenhagen; Anthony Burrill, Rainbow Cloud, Published by Habitat as part of their 50×70 series, Litho print, 42 x 59 cm; Jason Cover, The Burbs, Giclee print, 420mm x 594mm, Nous Vous print set; Ville Savimaa, Tiss Is Finland, Client: Mokoma Sweden, 2009; Juju’s Delivery, Boxergirl, 2009, A2 Giclee Print, Edition of 100 Signed and Numbered, Copyright: Concrete Hermit; Andrew Rae, King of Beasts, Courtesy and copyright: Peepshow; Jess Wilson, Top Gun, Coloured Crayons, T- bar t-shirt; Mr. Bingo, House of Dead Formats, Giclee, 390x297mm, Edition: 10 (all signed and numbered), Client: Audit Commission. All images copyright the artist unless otherwise stated.

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