Emerging artists and big names in contemporary art will both feature as Frieze London, one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious contemporary art fairs, opened to the public yesterday.
Now in its 20th year, the fair has grown in profile and spread to other major global cities since first showcasing an eclectic selection of modern art in the British capital back in 2003.
The fair is now a key date in the art world’s calendar and an opportunity for artists, gallery owners, wealthy collectors, enthusiasts and others to view and buy new works.
Kristell Chade, executive director of Frieze Fairs, said this year is its “most international edition to date,” with 160 galleries from 40 countries exhibiting at its Regent’s Park home.
Ai Weiwei, Sarah Lucas and Damien Hirst
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, British artist Sarah Lucas and her compatriot Damien Hirst are among the headliners at this year’s show, which runs until Oct. 15.
Hirst is presenting his new series “The Secret Gardens Paintings” at the entrance to the huge white tent hosting the event.
Following his cherry blossom paintings exhibited at the Foundation Cartier in Paris in 2021, the artist is again unveiling luminous paintings inspired by nature.
They are a far cry from the provocative installations and sculptures of his early days, such as the pickled sharks or bisected cow displayed in a tank of formaldehyde.
But the artist, who has offered works as NFTs with the original versions burned at Frieze 2022, has continued his innovative digital links by using artificial intelligence to aid in creating the latest paintings.
Frieze Masters
With more than 130 participating galleries, Frieze Masters brings together six millennia of art – from rare antiquities to Old Master paintings to 20th-century masterpieces – creating a destination where visitors can discover art history anew. In the above video, Nathan Clements-Gillespie, director of Frieze Masters, introduces us to select highlights from the fair.
The fair features a cohort of major international galleries including Colnaghi, Galerie Eric Coatelem, De Jonckheere, Simon C. Dickinson, Peter Finer, Gagosian, Richard Green, Johnny Van Haeften, Hakgojae Gallery, Peter Harrington, Hauser & Wirth, Gallery Hyundai, Annely Juda Fine Art, Pace Gallery, Galerie G. Sarti, Skarstedt, Sprüth Magers, Craig Starr Gallery, Axel Vervoordt, Waddington Custot and Offer Waterman.
Fatoş Üstek curates Frieze Sculpture
Fatos Üstek is the new curator of Frieze Sculpture, a major annual public art exhibition that places monumental works by leading artists throughout London’s The Regent’s Park. Taking place 20 September to 29 October 2023, Frieze Sculpture will coincide with Frieze London and Frieze Masters, 11 to 15 October 2023, which together will celebrate the creative spirit of the city.
