Salzburg's New International Fine Art Fair Debuts in Historic Koller House

The Salzburg International Fine Art Fair (SIFAF) has launched as a replacement for the discontinued Art & Antique fair, which had operated for fifty years. Organized by dealer initiative and managed by professional fair organizer Wolfgang Pelz, SIFAF opened in the historic Koller House on Waagplatz in Salzburg's Old Town. The venue, a 12th-century burgher house, provides space for twenty exhibitors across its winding floors with lower ceilings, creating an intimate atmosphere compared to the grand halls of the former Residenz location. Most participating galleries are Austrian, primarily from Vienna, with The Old Treasury from the Netherlands being the sole international participant. The fair focuses on Austrian art, featuring works by Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Maria Lassnig, and Alfons Walde, alongside Art Deco pieces and select antiquities. Notable items include a Jugendstil desk by Georg Klimt priced at €36,000, Maria Lassnig's "Augapfel" painting for €460,000, and Alfons Walde's "Auracher Kirche" oil painting valued at €850,000. The future of SIFAF remains uncertain regarding potential relocation or possible return to the Residenz, where previous access was denied citing renovation needs and heritage protection concerns.