Overview
Frieze London 2024 features 165 galleries from 43 countries in a sleek new layout that encourages deeper exploration. The redesigned tent in Regent’s Park maintains a lively buzz, with galleries emphasizing visually appealing paintings and intimate sculptures over daring avant-garde pieces.
This edition showcases some of London’s most iconic spaces, including Arcadia Missa, Carlos/Ishikawa, Sadie Coles HQ, Stephen Friedman Gallery, Lisson Gallery, Victoria Miro, Maureen Paley, and White Cube. Top international galleries returning to the fair include Gagosian, Goodman Gallery, Hauser & Wirth, Lehmann Maupin, Pace Gallery, Thaddaeus Ropac, Sprüth Magers, and David Zwirner.
Rose Wylie at David Zwirner
The exhibition also features awe-inspiring curated sections that emphasize thematic exploration and support for emerging artists and galleries. Notable highlights include the return of the Artist-to-Artist initiative.
Artist-to-Artist
After its successful debut last year, Artist-to-Artist returns as a cornerstone of Frieze’s artist-driven program. The section invites established artists to select younger peers for solo presentations. This year’s nominees include Hurvin Anderson, Lubaina Himid, Rashid Johnson, Glenn Ligon, Zineb Sedira, and Yinka Shonibare.
Yinka Shonibare selected Nigerian-born painter Nengi Omuku, who studied at the Slade School of Fine Art and now works in Lagos. Drawing from European art history and African traditions, she often paints on sanyan fabric, a material used by the Yoruba people. Omuku’s work addresses identity in a poetic, romantic, and beautiful way without being didactic.
Zineb Sedira selected Algerian-born artist Massinissa Selmani, who primarily works with pencil and paper, creating drawings, animations, and installations. Sedira chose Selmani to highlight the North African artistic presence at Frieze, as galleries from the region often struggle to afford participation. His work often involves reworking archival images and press clippings through screen printing and drawing.
Smoke
The new themed section, Smoke, will feature ceramic works by leading international artists who blend pre-colonial traditions with contemporary clay practices. Curated by Pablo José Ramírez (Curator, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles), the exhibition invites reflection on nature and the search for authenticity.
Focus
Focus supports local and international galleries spanning five continents and is Frieze’s long-standing section dedicated to nurturing young galleries. This year, it highlights several new spaces shaping London’s contemporary art scene. Presented in collaboration with Stone Island, Focus continues to build a community of emerging galleries.
Editions
Editions features limited-edition artworks by leading international artists, offering new audiences the opportunity to collect at more affordable prices.
Market Pulse
Despite concerns over rising costs, the lingering effects of Brexit, global political uncertainty, and the upcoming return of Art Basel Paris at the Grand Palais, Frieze London defied expectations with strong sales during its VIP days. Exhibitors remained unfazed, buoyed by a high visitor turnout.
In response to the cautious sentiment in the current art market, galleries are taking a conservative approach by featuring works they expect to sell easily. This has led to fewer solo exhibitions and less experimentation.
An art adviser noted a growing selectivity among collectors, driven by rising primary market prices in recent years. However, they added that galleries are becoming more flexible with pricing to close deals.
At Frieze London and Frieze Masters, major galleries reported notable sales across a wide range of artworks.
White Cube led with the sale of an Al Held painting for $450,000, while other significant sales included four Tracey Emin bronze works for £80,000 each and a Marguerite Humeau bronze for £75,000.
Pace Gallery’s top sale was an undisclosed David Hockney piece, alongside an Alicja Kwade work for $500,000 and two Emily Kame Kngwarreye works for $150,000 each.
Gagosian sold most of its Carol Bove sculptures, while Lehmann Maupin reported selling 11 paintings by Billy Childish, priced between $50,000 and $100,000.
Thaddaeus Ropac’s top VIP Day sales included works by Joan Snyder ($200,000) and Elizabeth Peyton ($225,000). Sprüth Magers sold an Anne Imhof painting for €200,000, and Lisson Gallery closed out with multiple Leiko Ikemura works, including Usagi Kannon Pray for €168,000.
Stephen Friedman Gallery sold out its booth, including works by Caroline Walker and Clare Woods, ranging from £35,000 to £175,000, and a Woody De Othello bronze for $350,000.
David Zwirner reported a painting by Lisa Yuskavage sold for $2.2 million, with other sales including Yayoi Kusama paintings for $670,000 and $720,000.
Other notable sales include Ji Xin works at Almine Rech, Nengi Omuku paintings at Kasmin and Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, and several Ha Chong-Hyun pieces at Kukje Gallery.
What to See
