A new connection between artists and collectors
A brand-new cultural event is coming to South London as the Herne Hill Art Fair launches for the first time, taking place over two weekends on 8–10 and 15–17 May 2026. Hosted by Station Hall and will take part in the Dulwich Artists’ Open House.
The curator of the art fair is Luana Asiata, who took time out from creating art to talk to her favourite publication, writes Michael Holland.
How did you become an artist?
‘I started young—drawing felt like a safe escape into another world. My older brother is an amazing artist and inspired me a lot. We both went to art school. I later worked in graphic design across advertising and publishing, which still shapes my work. Just before the pandemic, I moved into art full-time and haven’t looked back.’
How would you describe your art? ‘My work draws on the residues of experience—those felt geographies that remain long after I’ve moved on. I use loose, gestural marks alongside graphic shapes that move across the canvas – like a blueprint of my journey through lived experiences.
‘They are expressive and strike the perfect balance between landscape and abstract: just reminiscent enough of real landscapes to transport you to a new, plausible world, but abstract enough to allow the viewer to endow the image with their own emotional interpretation.’
Where does your inspiration come from?
‘A lot comes from memories of home in New Zealand and my experience as a Samoan artist now living in London. I’m always thinking about my culture, interactions I have with people, and places I’ve been to. I bring those layers together to create work that feels energetic, emotional, and thoughtful.’
How many of your artworks are in the exhibition?
‘I’ll be showing 15 paintings, in a range of sizes, from 80x80cm to 30x30cm. There’ll also be smaller original works on paper and fine art prints.’
What would you like people to see in them?
‘I’d love people to find a moment of joy—something that feels personal or familiar to them. I think we’re all linked in some way through art, and I really value that shared experience.’
Do they have a message?
‘They speak of the energy and spirit we share with people, the land and places we inhabit. I’ve been thinking a lot about the Samoan concept of va—the relational space that binds us. It holds the imprint of ancestors, the echo of conversations, the weight of land and ocean. It exists in how I stand beside others, how I return home, how I acknowledge what came before me. That sense of connection weaves through my work like a thread.’
What are your hopes for this Art Fair?
‘I hope it brings real connection between artists and collectors – that artists do well, and collectors find pieces they truly love. It’s about celebrating both local and international talent and bringing people together.’
Anything you’d like to add?
‘We’ve got the Herne Hill Print Fair coming up in July.
Email: in**@**************ir.com to join the waiting list!
Full details: https://www.hernehillartfair.com/
Station Hall, above Herne Hill Station, Herne Hill, SE24 0JW on 8–10 and 15–17 May 2026.
