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FOCUS Art Fair London Returns to Saatchi Gallery, Showcasing Asian Contemporary Art

FOCUS Art Fair London returns to the Saatchi Gallery from 16-19 October 2025, presenting contemporary art from Asia and its diaspora alongside a programme of talks featuring representatives from SOAS, the V&A Museum, and Art Basel.

The fair will showcase works by more than 50 contemporary Asian artists from over 15 countries and regions, including China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Taiwan, as well as diaspora artists from the UK, USA, and Europe.

Talks Programme

The 2025 talks series addresses themes in Asian contemporary art and the art market. Friday’s programme includes a discussion on soft power and cultural memory in Asian art and craft, featuring Yi Crafts Founder Yiran Duan and Yutaka Tsuchiya, CEO of SGC Co., Ltd., followed by an artist talk with Japanese pop star and contemporary artist Kento Senga.

Saturday’s sessions cover reporting on the Asian contemporary art market with Flint Culture’s Digby Halsby, Artnet News correspondent Vivienne Chow, and Senior Art Market Editor Arun Kakar. A panel titled “Curating Asia in the West: Who Holds the Narrative” brings together curators from the V&A Museum, Eskenazi gallery, and Art Basel. Philippine artist Abi Dionisio presents an artist talk on Saturday afternoon.

Sunday concludes with “Cross Currents,” exploring connections between SWANA (South West Asia and North Africa) and East and Southeast Asian contemporary art, featuring speakers from SOAS and independent curators.

Featured Artists and Exhibitions

The 2025 edition highlights Korean artists Meekyoung Shin and Jaejun Lee. Shin presents reinterpretations of 16th-20th century Chinese porcelain and Buddha figures made from soap, while Lee showcases porcelain works combining innovative forms with traditional techniques.

The Philippines Centre for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) presents a group exhibition of nine Filipino contemporary artists, led by installation art pioneer Luis E. Yee Jr. (JUNYEE). The exhibition includes works by Gus Albor, Demi Padua, Pong Bayog, Marrie Saplad, Raffy Napay, Dino Gabito, Russel Trinidad, and Anna Bautista.

Kento Senga, a Japanese artist and member of boy band Kis-My-Ft2, will exhibit sculptures and paintings demonstrating his ‘FiNGAiSM’ style, which emphasizes direct physical engagement with materials.

Studio ŪMA presents “Uncarved Space,” a furniture collection displayed alongside curated artworks by Dylan Doe, Richard WM Hudson, and Fernando Aldama. Yi Crafts, a studio dedicated to handcrafts and cuisine of China’s minority ethnicities, will showcase traditional practices of the Bai ethnic minority.

Fair Details

Over 30 galleries are participating, including One East Asia (Singapore), Gallery Art Positive (New Delhi), SH Gallery (Tokyo), Artas Gallery (Petaling Jaya), Teravarna Art Gallery (Los Angeles), Hanmi Gallery (London, Seoul), Sobasuta Gallery (Tokyo), Hongik Art (Seoul), and Jay Chung Gallery (New York).

Partners for the 2025 edition include LG Corporation, Cassina, The Sotheby’s Institute of Art, CITEM, One East Asia, and Asian Society.

Founded in 2019 by Sungmin Hong and Jungwon Lee, FOCUS Art Fair has hosted over 45 overseas exhibitions across Paris, London, Porto, and New York. Since its inception, the fair has welcomed over 100,000 visitors and achieved sales exceeding £10 million. The 2025 London edition marks the fourth UK edition and 11th global edition.

Day tickets are priced at £20, granting access to both the exhibition and talks programme. The fair opens with a press and VVIP preview on Thursday 16 October from 3-6pm, followed by FOCUS VIP Night from 6-8:30pm. Public hours run Friday through Sunday, with extended Friday Lates until 8:30pm.

All images courtesy of FOCUS Art Fair

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