Printmakers and dealers have gathered at Somerset House for the city’s longest-running art show
I need tomorrow (2026) by Tracey Emin
A palatial fixture of The Strand for 250 years, Somerset House is one of London’s foremost cultural hubs. Known for its rich exhibitions and, of course, ice-skating, Somerset House transforms come spring, as it prepares to host the London Original Print Fair. The city’s longest-running art fair and, in fact, the world’s longest-running fair dedicated to prints, the London Original Print Fair takes place 14-17 May with over 50 exhibitors and sellers.
Standouts this year include six new Tracey Emin prints, produced by staple print maker, Counter Editions. Showing her “blue period”, the pieces feature her favoured deep-blue and grey wispy silhouettes, blending human form with an abstract tone, creating beautiful, ghostly figures. One notable piece, I need tomorrow (2026), features a silhouette of a cat (Emin is famously devoted to hers) curled up on its sleeping human companion.
Across from Emin in the east wing, is the Glasgow Print Studio, a not-for-profit centre that not only produces prints, but also teaches printing techniques. Among the highlights includes a print by Scottish artist Barbara Rae, West 22 (2013), a firework of blue and green with sharp red lines throughout. The Glasgow Print Studio is just one of the dozens of independent printmaking studios at the fair, producing work by both established and lesser-known artists.
Although the east and west corridors at Somerset House are admittedly quite snug, the lack of space only adds to the atmosphere. There is barely a blank surface in sight, with each seller all but papering the walls with their prints. The London Original Print Fair can only be described as gloriously chaotic, with some of the largest varieties of art gathered in one space, and all for sale. There are, of course, the eye-wateringly expensive offerings (Bridget Riley’s 1971 screenprint Firebird will set you back a cool £67,500), but then just round the next corner a great bargain can be found.
Although the east and west corridors at Somerset House are admittedly quite snug, the lack of space only adds to the atmosphere. There is barely a blank surface in sight, with each seller all but papering the walls with their prints. The London Original Print Fair can only be described as gloriously chaotic, with some of the largest varieties of art gathered in one space, and all for sale. There are, of course, the eye-wateringly expensive offerings (Bridget Riley’s 1971 screenprint Firebird will set you back a cool £67,500), but then just round the next corner a great bargain can be found.
At a time when the art market seems to be driven by exclusivity and an “only I can have it” mentality, it is refreshing to see megastars like Tracey Emin allowing her work to be reproduced as prints, making the experiencing of owning art feel more accessible. And while, we can’t all shell out five figures on a limited-edition lithograph, places like the London Original Print Fair are turning pipe dreams of owning art into a reality.
The London Original Print Fair will run at Somerset House from 14-17 May 2026, £22 for a day ticket or £45 for an all-access pass; londonoriginalprintfair.com
