Charlotte's own "baby Basel" returns, showcasing emerging artists
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Artwork on display at The Hunnid Dollar Art Fair in 2024. Photo: Sir Will The Artist. Courtesy of Dammit Wesley
A $100 art fair with big Art Basel energy is returning to Charlotte this month — and organizers want you to party with the art.
Why it matters: Charlotte artist Dammit Wesley's Hunnid Dollar Art Fair highlights emerging artists all month and gives locals a chance to explore and collect local art without a high price tag.
Driving the news: The fair returns Dec. 6, 13 and 20 at Camp North End, running alongside Mistletoe Market from 3–6pm. Tickets are $2 at the door.
- A VIP preview night with live music is set for Friday, Dec. 5, for collectors looking to get first dibs on artwork. Preview night tickets are $100 and include a plus one.
What to expect: Inside the 17,000-square-foot Black Box of the Ford Building (300 Camp Road), guests will find work from 69 regional artists — everything from paintings and sculptures to photography, abstracts and experimental pieces.
What they're saying: "To go to cities like Atlanta and see the beauty, the diversity, the appetite for culture and then to come to Charlotte — and she has the audacity to be a shy girl afraid to tell us that she has a very eclectic collection — it's triggering for me. Everyone deserves an opportunity to collect art," Wesley said.
Context: Wesley launched the Hunnid Dollar Art Fair in 2019, and since then, both he and the event have become central forces in Charlotte's creative scene. Last year, the fair drew thousands of attendees.
- Wesley's also the creative force behind Boileryard Brunch and the city's first Durag Fest.
The vibe: Wesley is partnering with A 704 Party, a pop-up party series, to curate the fair's music and create a more immersive experience.
- On Dec. 5 and 6, A 704 Party will host an afterparty in the art-filled space from 6-10pm. Tickets to the after-party start at $12.29.
State of play: Artists keep 100% of their sales, with pieces starting at $100. Higher-priced "VIP pieces" typically stay under $1,500.
- "My overall goal for organizing an event like this is to birth a baby Basel," Wesley said, referencing Miami's huge annual international art fair. "To any art travelers, collectors and aficionados — they know that once a year, the derelicts of the art world descend on Miami for a week of debauchery. I want to do that at home," Wesley said.
- He says his goal is to invest in and showcase emerging artists.
What's next: Wesley encourages artists who want to be part of next year's fair to volunteer at this year's event.
