About
For four days each February, Melbourne Art Fair transforms the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre into a meeting place for the curious and the devoted. Leading galleries and Indigenous-owned art centres converge with collectors, artists, and those simply drawn to the hum of new ideas.
For more than thirty-eight years, Melbourne Art Fair has been a defining fixture on the Australasian cultural calendar, supporting and promoting living artists through the staging of a world-class contemporary art fair. Presenting works from the region’s most respected artists and galleries, and their newest, most exciting counterparts, the Fair stimulates critical and commercial attention, ensuring that the conversations that begin here continue to resonate long after the lights go out. This is art. This is Melbourne.
Melbourne Art Fair has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory board, and Creative Victoria.
Melbourne Art Fair
18-21 February 2027
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The Foundation
Founded by a group of galleries in 1988, Melbourne Art Fair is today owned and operated by the Melbourne Art Foundation, an Australian nonprofit arts organisation dedicated to the support of living artists.
Since 2003, the Melbourne Art Foundation has distributed over AUD $1.6M in artist fees and grants, and facilitated an estimated AUD $96.4M in contemporary art sales at Melbourne Art Fair. With the endorsement of the Art Galleries Association of Australia (AGAA) the Fair continues to be a seminal fixture on the Australasian cultural calendar, stimulating critical and commercial attention for artists for over 35 years.
Melbourne Art Foundation produces the annual Melbourne Art Fair and, in 2025 produced in partnership with Creative Victoria, the Victorian First Peoples Art & Design Fair Showcase Exhibition.
The Board
PETER JOPLING AM, KC, CHAIRMAN
COMPANY DIRECTOR AND PHILANTHROPIST
Peter Jopling is a Melbourne-based King’s Counsel. Peter is the Chairman of the Ian Potter Museum of Art, Chair of the Sir Robert Menzies Memorial Foundation Ltd, Chair of Lucy Guerin Inc and Chair of the Melbourne University Humanities Foundation. Peter has been Deputy Chair of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, a Director of the McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery, and Director of the National Gallery of Australia Foundation. Peter was a Patron of the Australian World Orchestra as well as a member of the Victorian College of the Arts Foundation and is a Director of Pinchgut Opera, Lux Australis and the Victorian Art Centre Foundation. Peter has also held directorships of science and business school boards as well as various legal governing boards. In 2014 Peter was made a Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to the law in Victoria and to the community.
MICHAELA WEBB
FOUNDER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR, STUDIO ROUND
With over 20 years’ experience, Michaela has worked for some of the world’s leading brand and design companies, including Wolff Olins and Spin in London, and in 2016 was elected as a member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI). In 2002, Michaela founded Round with Robert Nudds, a design practice that connects culture, commerce and creativity to deliver transformative brands across arts & culture, food & drink, hospitality, publishing, property, retail and architecture & design. Michaela currently sits as an advisor on boards for RMIT Design Hub and Ian Potter Museum of Art.
ROSE HISCOCK
DIRECTOR OF MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS,
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
Prior to the University of Melbourne, Rose was Director of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (Powerhouse Museum), Australia’s contemporary museum for excellence and innovation in applied arts and sciences. Rose’s career includes a period at the Australia Council, where she held the position of Executive Director, Arts Development and Museum Victoria where she was responsible for commercial and audience growth across Museum Victoria’s highly successful venues. She is committed to building a thriving and dynamic arts sector and is Board member of Back to Back Theatre and Chunky Move.
ADRIAN FINI OAM
FOUNDER/DIRECTOR, FJM PROPERTY AND FINI GROUP
Adrian Fini OAM is a prominent Perth business executive involved in property development and the arts. He was managing director of family company Fini Group. Following its merger with ASX-listed Mirvac in 2001, he became chief executive of the expanded Mirvac Fini Business. He was subsequently appointed an executive director of Mirvac Group, responsible for its development division before resigning in 2010 to concentrate on private business ventures through FJM property and the ‘reborn’ Fini Group. In July 2020, Fini Group and Linc Property merged their operations under the name Hesperia. Mr. Fini is a director of Perth Festival and the University of Western Australia Foundation. In 2016, Mr. Fini was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to the arts in Western Australia, and named the Western Australian of the Year.
NICHOLAS THOMPSON
OWNER/DIRECTOR, NICHOLAS THOMPSON GALLERY
Nicholas Thompson is the owner and director of Nicholas Thompson Gallery, a contemporary art gallery in Naarm/Melbourne founded in 2015. He previously worked for a decade at leading Australian galleries including Philip Bacon Galleries (Brisbane) and Australian Galleries (Melbourne). A graduate of the University of Queensland (BA Hons Art History) and the University of Melbourne (MA Curatorship), Nicholas is an approved valuer for the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program and a member of the Art Galleries Association of Australia. Since its inception, Nicholas Thompson Gallery has participated in every Melbourne Art Fair.
JACK WILKIE-JANS
ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS ADVOCATE
ARTIST & ARTSWORKER
Jack Wilkie-Jans is an established arts writer, multi-disciplinary artist, arts worker, and Aboriginal affairs advocate from Cape York Peninsula, based in Cairns/Gimuy, Queensland. After 12 years working across the contemporary First Nations visual arts sector (at all levels, domestically and internationally), in 2023 he launched his own consultancy practice: JWJ Consultancy. Professionally, Jack specialises in arts writing & review; policy guidance; governance and operational best, Cultural practice; artist representation; regional economic development; and land management. A Tribal Great-Grandson of Dr Thancoupie/Thanakupi Gloria Fletcher James AO, Jack is an Alumni of the National Gallery Leadership Program (2011). As an artist (painting, film and photography) his focus is on post-colonial narratives and non-Culturally specific artistic abstraction and exploration
KATE DINON
PARTNER, CHARACTER + DISTINCTION
Kate Dinon is Partner at Character + Distinction, a brand strategy and growth consultancy specialising in strategic communications, partnership architecture, intellectual property commercialisation, and brand positioning. She brings more than 20 years of international experience across London, Zurich, and Australia, working with founders, VC- and PE-backed companies, and globally recognised brands. She is also the founder of Commissioned Editions and a Non-Executive Director of the Bradman Foundation.
ALAN PIGOTT
COMPANY DIRECTOR AND ADVISOR
Alan Pigott is a non-executive director and advisor who brings experience in strategy, business planning, governance, people and culture to the Board. He has a deep working knowledge of the for-profit, not for profit sectors and public sectors. He is passionate about the visual arts sector in Australia.
Alan has held senior positions across all levels of government including the Premier’s Department of NSW and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Before joining the private sector, Alan was the Deputy Chief Executive of Job Futures, a significant provider of employment services managing Federal and State Government contracts across 166, often remote locations. He was previously Director Arts Development with the NSW Ministry for the Arts and the General Manager of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. Most recently he was based in Hong Kong for 12 years working in the payments and eCommerce industry.
Alan is also a non-executive director of the Tweed Regional Art Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre Foundation Ltd., as well as other assorted for-profit Boards.
ANDREW KIRK
DIRECTOR, MISTER KIRKY PRESS OFFICE
Andrew Kirk is the founder of Mister Kirky Press Office. Established in 2015 and building on 20 years experience in public relations and brand strategy, Andrew delivers purposeful storytelling and connection to a global roster of clients in design, art, culture, travel and hospitality.
DAINE SINGER
OWNER/DIRECTOR, DAINE SINGER GALLERY
Daine Singer has been a gallery owner and director since 2011. As a gallerist and curator, she is committed to ethical art dealing and fully supporting artists. In addition to her dynamic gallery program, Daine has curated exhibitions for organisations including the National Gallery of Victoria, Experimenta Media Arts, Contemporary Art Tasmania and Salamanca Art Centre. Daine has also published four limited edition artist books through her independent small press, VERSION. Prior to opening her own gallery, Daine held positions including Gallery Manager at Anna Schwartz Gallery, Associate Curator at Experimenta Media Arts, and Curator at the Museum of Chinese Australian History. Daine has previously sat on the Business Advisory Council of the City of Yarra, the MLC Friends of Art Committee, and on the board of Blindside, and is a member of the Art Galleries Association of Australia. Daine has an interest in supporting younger generations’ entry into the art world, and has been a mentor to the University of Melbourne’s Arts Career Mentoring Program, the Seventh Gallery Emerging Curator Program, Wundergym, Shotgun at Contemporary Art Tasmania, and The Smith Family’s iTrack Mentor program. She has a BA (art history and history), Grad Dip in Arts Management, and Master of Art Curatorship from the University of Melbourne.
JAMES MCGRATH
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
James McGrath has built a career championing creativity and exploring the value of originality in communication and culture. A veteran of the advertising and marketing industry, he served as Creative Chairman of Clemenger BBDO, during which the agency was recognised as Agency of the Decade and Cannes Lions Global Agency of the Year. He is a former BBDO/Omnicom Global Board Member and has served as Jury President at Cannes Lions, D&AD (UK), and The One Show (New York). He is a Hall of Fame inductee and currently serves on the Board of the Melbourne Sculpture Biennale, and previously on the University of Melbourne Humanities Foundation Board.
SARAH MURRAY
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, NIAGARA GALLERIES
Sarah Murray is Associate Director at Niagara Galleries, where she has worked for over 15 years alongside founder and Director William Nuttall. Prior to this, she worked across advertising and publishing, developing a strong visual sensibility and communication expertise. Sarah has played a key role in supporting Australian artists through projects for public and private collections, as well as gallery and art fair exhibitions. She is a committed advocate for artists and the wider gallery sector, with a focus on fostering a vibrant and sustainable contemporary art community.
MARGARET MOORE
FOUNDER/DIRECTOR, MOORE CONTEMPORARY
Margaret Moore is Founder and Director of MOORE CONTEMPORARY in Perth/Boorloo, a gallery dedicated to the representation and promotion of contemporary artists locally, nationally, and internationally. Since its establishment in 2017, the gallery has delivered more than 60 projects and participated in multiple art fairs.
Prior to founding MOORE CONTEMPORARY, Moore held senior curatorial and arts management roles, including Curator of Visual Arts at Perth Festival (2008–2015), and positions at the Art Gallery of Western Australia, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and the National Gallery of Australia. She has also contributed to major public art commissioning projects and corporate collection development, and is a former Chair of both the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) Board and the Murdoch University Art Collection Board.
VIKTOR KRAVCHENKO
CO-FOUNDER/CO-DIRECTOR, NASHA GALLERY
Viktor Kravchenko is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Nasha Gallery, based in Gadigal/ Sydney. Viktor holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of New South Wales, and has held positions with Sotheby’s Australia, Olsen Gallery, and with noted Australian art dealer Rex Irwin. Since establishing Nasha, Viktor has focused on championing a new generation of Australian artists through close mentorship, and by building a curatorial program that foregrounds experimentation, dialogue and ambition. Viktor used to be a practicing artist and is still currently an art handler. Nasha Gallery has proudly exhibited at Melbourne Art Fair since 2024.
CHARLOTTE DAY
DIRECTOR, POTTER MUSEUM OF ART AND BUXTON CONTEMPORARY
Charlotte Day is an experienced art curator, museum director and manager, working with prominent institutions and individuals to commission new work, develop impactful art programming and build significant contemporary collections. She is passionate about art-led education and bringing the art of established as well as more emerging artists to the public eye and conversation.
In 2023 Charlotte joined the University of Melbourne Museum and Collections team as director of the Potter Museum or Art and Buxton Contemporary. Previously she was Director of Monash University Museum of Art, building its reputation as a leading university museum and educator in the South Pacific, initiating major curatorial and art projects by artists from around the globe. Charlotte has deep networks in the art world and links artists to opportunities. She was closely involved in the design and roll out of the public art program across Monash University and in diversifying both the exhibition program and works in custodianship of the University collection as well as audience engagement and sense of belonging with the museum.
Key people
CLARE MCKENZIE
CEO
Clare is a highly experienced arts manager with more than fifteen years experience in managing, producing, and marketing roles across the arts industry. She is passionate about providing access to the arts for a broad audience and supporting the delivery of large-scale events which positively impact the arts ecology.
An experienced arts manager, Clare joins Melbourne Art Foundation after almost seven years as Executive Director of PHOTO Australia and previously as General Manager of Ausdance Victoria. Her expertise spans delivery of high-impact events and festivals as well as local and international market development across both the visual and performing arts sectors.
CLARE@MELBOURNEARTFOUNDATION.COM
MELISSA LOUGHNAN
FAIR DIRECTOR
Melissa Loughnan founded Utopian Slumps in 2007, shifting it from a non-profit to a commercial model in 2010 and operating until the end of 2014. During this time Utopian Slumps participated in numerous local and international art fairs, including Melbourne Art Fair, Sydney Contemporary, Auckland (Aotearoa) Art Fair, Art Stage Singapore, Art Forum Berlin, Art Fair Tokyo and Art Basel Hong Kong. Melissa shifted the business to a consulting agency in 2015, with a focus on public art advisory projects.
Melissa self-published Utopian Slumps: The Collingwood Years in 2011 and authored Australiana to Zeitgeist: An A to Z of New Australian Contemporary Art, Thames and Hudson, 2017. She has presented at various curatorial symposia and participated in panel discussions across Australia and internationally. She recently served a six year term on the Board of West Space.
MELISSA@MELBOURNEARTFOUNDATION.COM
JODIE KRAS
DIRECTOR, GALLERIES
Jodie Kras has over 10 years of experience in the art industry, working across commercial galleries, biennales, art fairs and auction houses in Melbourne and Sydney.
Jodie’s passion for helping the next generation of art collectors led her to establish The Arts Club in 2018, a series of pop-up exhibitions in unique locations aiming to bridge the gap between emerging artists and collectors. The Arts Club created spaces distinctly different to the setting of a traditional gallery and sourced unique works by emerging artists at affordable prices.
JODIE@MELBOURNEARTFOUNDATION.COM
ANDY KELLY
DIRECTOR, COLLECTIBLE DESIGN
With a background in fashion and design media, Andy has been instrumental in launching several brands into the Australian market. His passion for creating dynamic, engaging collaborative events, coupled with his ability to craft compelling stories and content that resonates, has shaped a rare skill set. Andy is adept at creating and executing marketing strategies that align with both emerging trends and timeless principles.
ANDY@MELBOURNEARTFOUNDATION.COM
CRISTINA ULLOA SOBARZO
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Cristina Ulloa Sobarzo is a marketing professional and videographer with experience spanning advertising, content production, and audience engagement. After working on the Myer account at Clemenger BBDO, she joined Melbourne Art Foundation, where she now leads the organisation’s marketing initiatives.
Cristina specialises in creating engaging campaigns and content that connect with diverse audiences while driving ticket sales and brand growth. She holds a Bachelor of Communications (Media) from RMIT University, graduating in 2021.
CRISTINA@MELBOURNEARTFOUNDATION.COM
ZACHARY CALLEJA
FAIR COORDINATOR
With a background in hospitality and events, and a growing body of work as a writer exploring art, design and creative identity, Zachary Calleja is an emerging voice interested in the possibilities of storytelling through collaboration and diverse creative practices. In his role as a writer and events coordinator for Oigåll Projects, he has contributed to the development of thoughtful, community-oriented programming and activations. His editorial work has appeared in publications including Union Magazine and The Local Project, where he explores the intersections of design, culture, and lived experience. His work for TCYK investigates the conceptual underpinnings of brand identity and product design, exploring the inherent narratives they possess. Grounded in a belief that meaningful stories emerge through shared process and experiences, Zachary continues to build a practice that is curious, responsive, and engaged.
ZACHARY@MELBOURNEARTFOUNDATION.COM
SARA LAMMARDO
VIP RELATIONS MANAGER
Sara Lammardo is passionate about bringing people closer with art. With experience across leading cultural organisations including the State Library of Victoria, National Gallery of Victoria, and Lyon Housemuseum, she has developed a flair for producing events, exhibitions and programs that invite audiences in and spark conversation. Attentive and collaborative, Sara works to create thoughtful experiences that nurture industry relationships and deepen engagement with Australian contemporary art.
Sara holds a Master of Arts and Cultural Management from The University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Art History and Curating from Monash University.
SARA@MELBOURNEARTFOUNDATION.COM
VIP Relations
Partnering with Melbourne’s leading institutions, private museums and independent art spaces, the Melbourne Art Fair VIP Program celebrates the vibrancy of Victoria’s cultural landscape. The program engages an international network of collectors through invitation-only dinners, studio visits, private collection tours, exhibition openings, and private events. Melbourne Art Fair allows collectors to discover artists, galleries and artworld figures at the forefront of contemporary art, and experience the best of our host city, Melbourne.
For more information on the VIP Program, or to register your interest, please email:
