The Phair: New Photography Fair Launches in Turin

A new photography fair, The Phair, will launch in Turin from May 2 to 5 at the ex Borsa Valori. Founded by Roberto Casiraghi, who also created The Others fair, The Phair aims to be a specialized boutique fair focusing exclusively on photography. It will feature 38 Italian galleries, each in a uniform 20 sqm booth, selected by a steering committee that includes Lorenzo Bruni, the new director of The Others Fair. Notable participating galleries include Giò Marconi, Massimo Minini, Lia Rumma, Alfonso Artiaco, and Alberto Peola, who will present photographers or artists working with photography. Casiraghi states that the fair is a response to the trend toward specialization in the art fair world, noting that while MIA Photo Fair in Milan exists, it mixes galleries and independent authors, whereas The Phair will be exclusively for galleries. The fair is conceived as a small biennial, asking gallerists to create special projects for their booths. The event coincides with a favorable moment for photography in Turin, with CAMERA Centro Italiano per la Fotografia and the Fo.To – Fotografi a Torino festival, which will hold its second edition concurrently. Casiraghi also anticipates a new photography festival in 2020, organized by CAMERA, the city, and the region, under the auspices of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage.