Affordable Art Fair NYC Spring 2025

Ruby Bateman, Tariq Oliver, and Juliette Vaissière

Harsh Collective returns to the Affordable Art Fair with Canonical Contemporary, a curated presentation examining how emerging artists are reinterpreting classical themes through modern perspectives. The exhibition will be on view March 19–23 at booth F2 in the Metropolitan Pavilion.

As part of their second edition as a member of the Affordable Art Fair Fellowship program, Harsh Collective brings together three distinctive voices in contemporary art: Ruby Bateman, Tariq Oliver, and Juliette Vaissière. Each artist offers a unique lens on historical artistic movements, from Neo-Classicism to Cubism, while addressing contemporary social themes.

British artist Ruby Bateman's intimate works, including Conquered All and Done Weeping (2025), examine vulnerability through a feminist reimagining of classical motifs. French artist Juliette Vaissière references the visual excesses of Baroque and Rococo periods to critique modern consumerism, while Nigerian-born Tariq Oliver's emotionally charged work transforms personal trauma into universal expressions through Cubist and Expressionist techniques.

"This exhibition demonstrates how contemporary artists are engaging with art historical traditions in ways that feel urgent and relevant today," says Etta Harshaw, Founder of Harsh Collective. "By bridging classical techniques with modern perspectives, these artists create work that is both timeless and timely."
Visitors can experience an additional element of the presentation during Art After Dark on Friday, March 21st (6-9 PM), when Harsh Collective will participate in a special print raffle in collaboration with Wexel Art.