"Balanced mix of emerging and established artists drives success"... Largest-ever Galleries Art Fair opens

[Financial News]"The fair is doing well because the quality and quantity of works by both emerging and well-known artists are satisfying visitors."(Official at the Galleries Association of Korea)
On the 8th, the C and D halls on the third floor of COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam District, Seoul, were packed from the moment the doors opened. Long lines of visitors filled the entrance, collectors moved quickly from booth to booth, and artwork consultations were taking place everywhere. Once again, the country's longest-running art fair, the "Galleries Art Fair," proved that it remains a key barometer for gauging the direction of the art market in the first half of the year.
The 2026 Galleries Art Fair runs from a VIP preview on the 8th through the 12th. Hosted by the Galleries Association of Korea, this year's edition is the largest ever, with 169 galleries taking part, including major domestic players such as Gallery Hyundai, Kukje Gallery, and Hakgojae Gallery.
Strong demand was evident from opening day. Around 4,500 people attended the VIP preview, creating long queues at the entrance. In particular, the noticeable influx of younger collectors signaled a clear trend toward broadening the base of the art market.
A representative from one gallery noted, "From the first day, we have seen brisk inquiries and sales, delivering results that exceed our expectations."
The most notable feature of this year's Galleries Art Fair is its stronger focus on artist-centered programming. The "Solo Booth" section, introduced last year to positive feedback, has been moved to the main circulation route in Hall C, further raising its profile. Nineteen galleries are participating, each spotlighting a single artist's work to offer visitors a more concentrated and immersive viewing experience.
Leading players in the Korean art market such as Gana Art, Gallery Hyundai, Kukje Gallery, Hakgojae Gallery, and PKM Gallery are all present, along with mid-tier galleries that form the backbone of the scene, including Gallery Baton, Gallery Joeun, K.O.N.G Gallery, Geumsan Gallery, Leeahn Gallery, Park Ryu Sook Gallery, Art Side Gallery, ATELIER AKI, Wooson Gallery, Leehwaik Gallery, and Pyo Gallery.
In addition, many galleries that have grown alongside the Galleries Association of Korea over the decades—such as No Gallery, Dongsanbang Gallery, Gallery MAC, Mikwang Gallery, Wellside Gallery, Sun Gallery, Suhwarang Gallery, Gallery Yeh, Chosun Art Gallery, Johyun Gallery, and Jin Gallery—are also taking part this year, drawing attention.

A special exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of the Galleries Association of Korea is also worth noting. Through interviews with past association presidents, archival materials, early catalogues, and previously unpublished photographs, it offers a multidimensional look at how the Korean art market has taken shape and grown. By linking past and present, the show goes beyond simple retrospection and is being praised for suggesting possible directions for the market's future.
The emerging artist discovery project "ZOOM-IN" is likewise fueling excitement on site. Now in its seventh edition, this year's program features ten artists: Kim Suyeon, Park Siwol, Song Daseul, Youn Insun, Lee Suji, Lee Sina, Lee Jin-yi, Jeong Mijeong, Jung Jin, and Ha Sung-uk. Some works sold quickly right after the opening, reflecting an immediate market response. In particular, a work by Lee Jin-yi was sold within 10 minutes of being unveiled, drawing considerable attention.
The market response overall has been positive. Kukje Gallery sold works by Julian Opie and Kim Yun-shin for tens of millions of won each, while many other transactions were concluded at major participating galleries such as Gana Art, Hakgojae Gallery, Gallery Joeun, K.O.N.G Gallery, Park Ryu Sook Gallery, Geumsan Gallery, Gallery Bakyoung, and Art Sohyang.
Gana Art, in particular, sold multiple works, including a size-100 painting by Moon Hyungtae, while Hakgojae Gallery placed works by Chae Rim. Park Ryu Sook Gallery sold a piece by Patrick Hughes for around 20 million won, and Gallery Bakyoung sold a work by Kang Hee-young for 16 million won. The Columns Gallery sold a size-40 work by Kim Kang Yong; Gallery Joeun sold three works by Seongryul and five by Cho Won-jae; and Art Sohyang sold most of the pieces it brought by Seongbin Gam. With steady sales ranging from blue-chip artists to emerging names, observers said the fair reflects a well-balanced flow in the market.


This year's Galleries Art Fair is also being praised for the artistic strength of the works on view. Kim Yun-shin's painting "Light of the Soul 2025-49" (2025), presented by Kukje Gallery, divides the canvas into rhythmic sections using geometric patterns such as triangles and circles. Layers of blue in different tones harmonize across the surface, creating a visual effect that makes the canvas appear to vibrate.
Visitors can also preview new work by Hong Seung-Hye, who is set to hold a solo exhibition at Kukje Gallery Busan Branch on the 24th. Her piece "Frame Type Relief" (2024) is characterized by intentional empty spaces that allow interior and exterior forms to intersect freely. Rather than a fixed final form, the work highlights a variable "modular rule" determined by how its elements are combined. Min Joung-ki's new painting "Cactus with a Visible Map" (2026), meanwhile, condenses his long-standing exploration of old maps and his recent interest in still life into a single canvas, arranging these elements in a layered and mature visual world.

Gallery Joeun also drew attention with a booth that spans emerging to mid-career artists, each proposing different ways to expand the possibilities of contemporary art. One of its leading artists, Yong Rae Kwon, presented works assembled from stainless-steel units that blur the boundaries between painting, sculpture, and installation. The traces of welding left on the metal surface and the light that plays across it change constantly depending on the viewer's position, imbuing the work with a sense of time and space. Another key artist, Kim Byung-joo, showed his signature "Ambiguous Wall" series, which continually breaks down the boundaries between inside and outside, and between two and three dimensions, according to the viewer's gaze and movement, offering a multilayered visual experience.

K.O.N.G Gallery also turned heads with a distinctive booth that combines the essence of Nordic photographic art with the energy of contemporary Korean painting. In the painting section, new works by Jen Pak—who won both the grand prize in the 2023 Galleries Art Fair "ZOOM-IN" program and a special award from Porsche Korea—were unveiled. Jen Pak has drawn attention for her practice of reinterpreting the metropolis through geometric color and composition based on LEGO forms.
The viewing environment has also evolved. Starting this year, digital tickets and online catalogues have been fully introduced, enhancing both visitor convenience and environmental sustainability. In addition, programs such as "ART&ARTIST TALK," artist talks, and lectures on collecting have turned the fair into a multifaceted cultural platform that goes beyond a simple exhibition.
In terms of scale, programming, and market response, this year's Galleries Art Fair is widely seen as having taken a clear step forward. As a site where market, culture, and generations intersect—rather than just another "exhibition"—the fair is successfully drawing in visitors.
Lee Sung-hoon, President of the Galleries Association of Korea, said, "This year's Galleries Art Fair marks the 50th anniversary of the association and serves as a venue connecting the past, present, and future of Korean art," adding, "We will continue to establish the fair as a key platform that drives the growth of the art market and the spread of collecting culture."
rsunjun@fnnews.com Yoo Sun-joon Reporter