In this article we will explore in depth the topic of Frieze Art Fair, a topic that has aroused the interest and curiosity of people from different fields. From its impact on society to the implications it has on our daily lives, Frieze Art Fair is a topic that deserves to be analyzed in detail. Along these lines, we will delve into its origins, its evolution over time and the various perspectives that exist around it. Whether you are an expert in the field or simply someone interested in learning more about it, this article is intended to offer a complete and enriching overview of Frieze Art Fair.
Frieze Art Fair is an annual contemporaryart fair first held in 2003 in London's Regent's Park. Developed by the founders of the contemporary art magazine Frieze, the fair has since expanded to include editions in four cities, in addition to acquiring several other art fairs. Following the original Frieze Art Fair (also referred to as Frieze London), the fair added Frieze Masters (2012), also in London, dedicated to art made before the year 2000; Frieze New York (2012); Frieze Los Angeles (2019); and Frieze Seoul (2022). In 2023, Frieze acquired The Armory Show in New York, and EXPO Chicago.
In 2016, American holding company Endeavor acquired a majority stake in Frieze.
In 2003, Slotover and Sharp parted ways with Gidley and launched Frieze Art Fair. Early editions of the fair saw steady increases in attendance, rising from 27,700 at the first fair to 105,000 in 2016. Frieze has been noted for being among the first art fairs to implement practices like commissioning works from artists and holding artist talks during the fair. Multiple writers have stated that the original Frieze Art Fair helped unite London's art scene, which was gaining in prominence after significant investments in institutions like the Tate Modern. Despite high attendance, it was suggested in 2006 that only 20% of the fair's 68,000 visitors intend to buy work. Frieze stopped self-reporting sales figures in 2006, claiming that the figures were not accurate given that many sales happen in private or following the end of the fair's run. In 2007, Gavin Brown’s Enterprise booth at Frieze was transformed into a flea market, showcasing the fair's willingness to embrace unconventional and immersive art experiences. Since the mid-2000s, auction houses like Christie's, Sotheby's and Phillips have expanded their mid-season contemporary sales to coincide with Frieze London.
In 2010 Slotover participated in a formal debate at London's Saatchi Gallery with artists including Jasper Joffe, on the subject of whether "art fairs are about money." Joffe claimed that his criticisms of Frieze and Slotover led to his work being banned from the fair that year.
In May 2011, Slotover and Sharp announced the launch of two new art fairs, Frieze New York and Frieze Masters, with their first editions occurring in 2012. Frieze Masters, held concurrently to the original Frieze Art Fair, comprises art made before the year 2000.
In 2016, American talent agency and holding group Endeavor acquired a 70% controlling stake in the Frieze brand, including the magazine and art fairs. Following the acquisition, Slotover and Sharp continued to lead the company until 2020 when Simon Fox, a former media executive at Reach plc, was named CEO, overseeing all publications and fairs.
In 2017, Hauser & Wirth invited classics scholar Mary Beard to open a fake museum at Frieze consisting of artifacts bought on ebay.
In 2019, the fair expanded again with the addition of Frieze Los Angeles, followed by Frieze Seoul in 2022. Writers have compared Frieze's presence in Los Angeles and Seoul to its original presence in London, noting the similarities in both cities' art scenes to London's art scene in 2003, as both cities are considered to be rising in importance in the art world.
Frieze acquired two additional, locally grown art fairs in 2023: The Armory Show in New York, and EXPO Chicago. Both fairs will continue to operate under their independent brands.
Fairs
Frieze Art Fair 2003
Space hire was £180 per meter.
The fair's income was £990,000 from 5,500 square meters (2,250 rentable).
Sales were £20 million.
There were 124 galleries.
There were 27,700 visitors.
non-profit programme Frieze Projects initiated with Polly Staple as curator.
Frieze Art Fair 2004
The fair's income from galleries was £1.5 million from 8,000 square meters (4,000 rentable).
Sales were £26 million.
There were 150 galleries.
There were 42,000 visitors.
Public admission price was £12.
There were over 1,000 gallery applications for places.
Mélanie Matranga won the inaugural Frieze Artist Award 2014
Frieze Art Fair 2015
October 14–17
164 galleries from 27 different countries participated.
55,000 was the number of visitors this year.
Rachel Rose won the Frieze Artist Award 2015
Frieze New York 2016
In 2016, David Horvitz hired a pickpocket to place sculptures in the pockets of attendees of the annual Frieze Art Fair. This was part of “Frieze Projects” a program of 6 commissioned interactive activities at the fair. Said Horvitz, “Imagine how much money is concentrated there, among collectors and galleries—and then there’s this person walking around who’s basically a trained thief,”
Frieze Art Fair 2017
October 5–8
Frieze Art Fair 2018
October 4–7
Camden Arts Centre Emerging Artist Prize at Frieze won by Wong Ping
Frieze Art Fair 2019
Regents Park
October 3–6
160 exhibitors from 36 countries
40,000 square meters
Frieze Los Angeles 2019
Inaugural Los Angeles Edition
February 15–17
Presented at Paramount Pictures Studios
Frieze New York 2020
Cancelled in light of global health concerns regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus)
Frieze Art Fair 2021
Regents Park
October 13–17
159 exhibitors
£524 per square meter, £241-£338 per square meter in Focus
The Frieze Sculpture Park has been curated since 2012 by Clare Lilley of Yorkshire Sculpture Park, with historic pieces joining the contemporary collection.
Outset / Frieze Art Fair Fund to benefit the Tate Collection
Outset Contemporary Art Fund was founded by Candida Gertler and Yana Peel in 2003 as a philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting new art. The charitable foundation focuses on bringing private funding from its supporters and trustees to public museums, galleries, and art projects. In 2003, Outset established the world's first acquisitions fund connected to an art fair. This ongoing collaboration with Tate and Frieze proved to be a cornerstone in the foundation's program of institutional acquisitions.