The 21st edition of the annual Frieze London art fair opens today, October 9th, to September 13th at Regent’s Park. Both Frieze London and Frieze Masters will meet the audience once again with curatorial shows and notable names in art from Yayoi Kusama to Damien Hirst.
The fair features a new floorplan by design practice A Studio Between. The reconfigured layout and entrance give greater prominence to the fair’s curated sections, including Artist-to-Artist and this year’s new themed section, Smoke.
On entering the fair, visitors will encounter a pair of stands selected annually by the Frieze London committee, each showcasing an exceptional solo artist presentation.
At Frieze Masters, an artist-centered approach will debut, with an expanded Studio section and a refined floor plan by Annabelle Selldorf to encourage visitors to draw connections between objects and works from different times and places.
Eva Langret, Frieze London Director, said: ‘Visitors this year will find the fair reimagined, with solo presentations and emerging artists front and center, in a demonstration of Frieze’s commitment to the most exciting art being made today. Our new layout also features more spots for conversation and exchange. These changes promise fresh experiences and new perspectives.’
This year’s fair features more than 160 galleries from 43 countries. These include some of London’s defining spaces: Arcadia Missa, Carlos/Ishikawa, Sadie Coles HQ, Thomas Dane Gallery, Emalin, Stephen Friedman Gallery, Alison Jacques, Lisson Gallery, Kate MacGarry, Victoria Miro, Modern Art, Maureen Paley and White Cube. Leading international galleries at the fair include Gagosian, Goodman Gallery, Hauser & Wirth, Gallery Hyundai, Tina Kim Gallery, Lehmann Maupin, Pace Gallery, Perrotin, Almine Rech, Thaddaeus Ropac, Esther Schipper, Sprüth Magers and David Zwirner.
Courtesy of Dr. Jörn Günther Rare Books
Artist-to-Artist Section
After its 2023 debut, Artist-to-Artist returns as a cornerstone of the fair’s artist-driven program with six solo presentations, selected by world-renowned artists Hurvin Anderson, Lubaina Himid, Rashid Johnson, Glenn Ligon, Zineb Sedira and Yinka Shonibare .
New Themed Section: Smoke
Frieze’s new themed section is organized by Pablo José Ramírez, curator of Hammer Museum, Los Angeles. Smoke section presents ceramic works that explore diasporic and indigenous histories.
Focus Section
Focus Section with its newly prominent placement for 2024 is Frieze’s long-standing section and is dedicated to the young gallery community. This section features numerous new spaces that define London’s contemporary scene. Focus is presented in collaboration with Stone Island, whose bursaries further aid young galleries’ participation in the fair alongside Frieze’s existing support.
Frieze Masters
This year Frieze Masters is led by Nathan Clements-Gillespie with 130 galleries from 26 countries. Clements-Gillespie sees a reimagined, artist-centered approach, including an expanded Studio section and a redefined floor plan to encourage creative connections across art history.
The fair’s new Creative Advisor, Sheena Wagstaff, said: ‘Our new curatorial direction acknowledges how artists visit Frieze Masters to satisfy their curiosity, rejuvenate their thinking, and see how the work of their artist peers reflects the creative values of the past.’
The fair features major galleries including Galerie Chenel, Sam Fogg, Gagosian, Richard Green, Dr. Jörn Günther Rare Books, Johnny Van Haeften, Hauser & Wirth, Lehmann Maupin, Skarstedt and Axel Vervoordt, and leading Korean dealers Arario Gallery, Gana Art, Hakgojae Gallery and Johyun Gallery. This year sees a particularly strong contingent of experts in ancient Asian art, including Gisèle Croës s.a, Rasti Fine Art, Carlton Rochell Asian Art, Rossi & Rossi, Tenzing Asian Art and Thomsen Gallery. First-time participants for 2024 include Afridi (London), Bijl-Van Urk Masterpaintings (Alkmaar), Galatea (Salvador, São Paolo), Galerie Léage (Paris), Tilton Gallery (New York) and Trias Art Experts (Munich).
Spotlight Section
Led by Valerie Cassel Oliver, Spotlight features solo presentations by 20th-century artists, focusing on overlooked artists and lesser-known works by established figures, from the 1950s to the 1970s. Artists featured this year include Judy Chicago, Kulim Kim, Balraj Khanna, Donald Locke, Nabil Nahas, Nil Yalter and more.
During Frieze Week in October, London will host several major institutional exhibitions, including the following:
Francis Bacon: Human Presence at the National Portrait Gallery, Lygia Clark and Sonia Boyce at Whitechapel Gallery, Michael Craig-Martin at the Royal Academy of Arts, “Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers” at the National Gallery, Mike Kelley: Ghost and Spirit and Mire Lee’s Turbine Hall Commission at Tate Modern.
