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Galleries Art Fair closes with 50,000 visitors, posting strong midrange sales

Published: 13 Apr. 2026, 08:54 Updated: 13 Apr. 2026, 09:11

A visitor takes a look at artworks on display at the Galleries Art Fair, held at the Coex exhibition center in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on April 8. [YONHAP]

The Galleries Art Fair, also known as the Hwarang Art Fair, closed this weekend after a five-day run that drew approximately 50,000 visitors, organizers said Monday.

A noticeable trend this year was a rise in younger buyers and visitors with children eager to buy artwork at low to midrange prices.

Among the notable sales were an oil painting by figurative painter Lee Moka in the 200 million won ($134,600) range, offered by Jason Haam gallery; a work by Julian Opie around 90 million won and a sculpture by Kim Yun-shin at around 40 million, both from Kukje Gallery; and three sculptures by Kug Kyung-oh totaling 80 million won from Concreate Gallery.

Organizers pointed to a broader base of art consumers this year, with healthy sales of lower- to midrange works even amid what they described as a "cautious buying trend."

The annual event, held at the Coex exhibition center in southern Seoul from Wednesday to Sunday, attracted a record 169 member galleries.

Established in 1979, the fair is the first of its kind in the country and has long served as a barometer of the country's art market trends.

Yonhap