The Only Magazine for Children's Art
Aug 31, 2026
With art-making activities, a scavenger hunt and artworks selling for as little as $100
The edifyingly named Affordable Art Fair debuted at London's Battersea Park all the way back in 1999, and is now produced in sixteen cities across the globe, from Berlin to Hong Kong to Sydney, Australia, and of course, New York City. The spring NYC edition was another great success, with a total attendance of more than 12,000; and with summer coming to a close, it's most definitely time to start making plans to attend the fall edition, this year scheduled for September 16-20.
What we appreciate most about it is, that with so many other fairs - Frieze, Art Basel, etc. - appealing to art industry insiders and glamorous party people, AAF is accessible to nearly everyone who can physically make it to Chelsea's historic Starrett-Lehigh building. What awaits? 620 artists from 56 countries will have their work featured, 200 of whom are totally new to the fair, and - we especially love this one - 55% are women, decisively signaling a hopeful shift in representation. (It is particularly significant, as even with the dawn of the 21st Century, the professional art world was still mostly dominated by men.)
For parents looking for a fun cultural outing that can be equally enjoyed by themselves and their children, what could be better than a day spent around all that burgeoning creativity? To be sure, it can prove a great inspiration to little ones still trying to find their own creative voices. With art prices starting at just $100 (topping out at $12,000), letting them pick out a favorite piece to take home and hang on their bedroom wall is actually entirely within reach.
But there's also specific family programming throughout the weekend, presented by children's art studio mini-chain PLAYDAY (they have seven locations throughout the city, and another in Hoboken), with art-making activities and even a scavenger hunt. Special kid tickets can be purchased in advance via AAF's website. Still though, since kids just love art, don't be surprised if the little ones get just as caught up in the grownup stuff.
Best of all, with 91 galleries participating, it's virtually impossible to run out of inspiration at the Affordable Art Fair. As fair director Erin Schuppert so perfectly sums it up, "It's the opportunity to see tons of different art styles under one roof from all over the world - so it’s the perfect way to learn more about your tastes and your interests."
(Parents: Check out the Affordable Art Fair YouTube channel for engaging, enlightening videos on how to buy art, how to talk about art, and even how to decorate your home with art - great for spending a creative weekend morning together any time!)
