Tracing Time, a London drawing fair organized by Trois Crayons, returns for its second edition from 26 June to 5 July at No. 9 Cork Street. The selling exhibition features drawings spanning 500 years, with 35 participating galleries—double the number from its debut—including works by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, Gustav Klimt, and Françoise Gilot. Unlike traditional fairs, it operates without stands: dealers pay a flat fee for logistics, retain 100% of sales, and the space functions as a social hub without booths or dealers present.
This model matters because it offers a cost-effective alternative to conventional art fairs, lowering overheads for dealers and enabling better prices for buyers. It reflects a growing trend toward flexible, salon-style presentations that prioritize connoisseurship and social engagement over transactional booths. As the art market faces economic pressures, Tracing Time’s approach could influence how niche sectors like Old Master and modern drawings adapt to changing collector behaviors and post-Brexit logistics.