Anne Verhallen, the Founder of KUNST Agency, has shaped her career at the intersection of art, fashion, music, and experience. At KUNST—a management company for contemporary, multimedia artists—she’s developed collaborations with brands like Hugo Boss, On Running, Fred Again, and the ICA Miami. As she continues to cover a range of projects and industries, Verhallen continues to travel the world to experience the best of global creation. Last week, Verhallen was in Los Angeles for LA Art Week 2026, and shared with Whitewall some of her favorite moments, including an opening party with STAUD, Frieze Impact Prize ceremony, an unmissable show by the Julia Stoschek Foundation collection, and more.
Portrait of Anne Verhallen by Camraface, Courtesy of Anne Verhallen.
Marcela Kuara + Anne Verhallen at STAUD x Frieze, Courtesy of Anne Verhallen.
Best Events
STAUD x FRIEZE
Anne Verhallen, Lily Kwong, Nick Kroll, Nick Cinque, Jonathan Schwartz at STAUD x FRIEZE, photo by BFA.
brand STAUD partnered with Frieze to host an opening event of Frieze Los Angeles on Wednesday evening at the penthouse of Chateau Marmont. It was the quintessential Frieze Los Angeles moment, bringing together individuals from the art, entertainment, and fashion worlds in a way that feels distinctly LA.
Best Discovery
Napoles Marty
Napoles and Anne at Frieze. Courtesy of Anne Verhallen.
Napoles Marty Frieze Booth. Courtesy of Anne Verhallen.
One of my most exciting discoveries this week was Napoles Marty, the recipient of the Frieze Impact Prize. I had met Napoles before and primarily knew him for his sculptural work, which was presented at NXT HVN’s end-of-year exhibition.
Through the Frieze Impact Prize, this rising star was given the opportunity to present a solo booth in the Focus section, showcasing phenomenal drawings alongside his sculptural practice. The presentation felt expansive and polished. It was the first booth to sell out on opening day! Double congratulations to Napoles on such a well-deserved moment.
Best Moment
Frieze Impact Prize Celebration
Napoles Marty Frieze Booth. Courtesy of Anne Verhallen.
One of the best moments of the week was the Friday evening celebration hosted by Frieze honoring the Impact Prize winner at The Living Room. By Friday night, many of us are reaching the end of the Frieze marathon, and the energy shifts. The evening feels like a genuine celebration, not only of the prize recipient, Napoles, but of everyone’s accomplishments throughout the week.
Artists, curators, and art professionals were all in a celebratory mood, which made it especially meaningful. Congratulations to Rodney Franks, CEO of RDF Consulting, Christine Messineo, director of Frieze, and the team at WME for bringing this annual evening together so seamlessly.
Best Shows
Julia Stoschek Foundation Collection + Destiny Is A Rose, Eileen Harris Norton Collection
Precious Okoyomon JSF, Courtesy of Anne Verhallen.
Destiny Is A Rose – Kerry James Marshall – HW, Courtesy of Anne Verhallen.
The standout institutional presentation for me was “What a Wonderful World: An Audiovisual Poem,” a selection from the Julia Stoschek Foundation collection, edited by Udo Kittelmann. The exhibition focused largely on video works and included works by artists such as Precious Okoyomon, Jacolby Satterwhite, Doug Aitken, and Jordan Wolfson, among many others. The show highlighted the emotional and narrative power of time-based media. I loved the production and curation for the exhibition in an old theater downtown called the Variety Art Center.
Jordan Wolfson – JSF, Courtesy of Anne Verhallen.
Another highlight was “Destiny Is a Rose,” drawn from the private collection of Eileen Harris Norton, presented at Hauser & Wirth in Los Angeles. Focused on artists of color and women artists, the exhibition showed just how thoughtful her collecting practice truly is. The cohesion of the works and the clarity of vision behind the collection made it one of the most compelling exhibitions of the week for me.
Best Surprise
PAGING DR FEELGOOD – ZODIAC PICTURES
Austyn Weiner’s artwork installation at Paging Feelgood, Courtesy of Anne Verhallen.
Lauren Quin at Zodiac Pictures LA, Courtesy of Anne Verhallen.
One of my favorite surprises was the group show titled “Paging Dr. Feelgood,” curated by Ben Lee Ritchie Handler and presented by Perrotin Gallery at the former home of Spago Restaurant. The exhibition felt playful and full of unexpected moments. I also loved visiting the new space of the LA-based gallery Zodiac Pictures, which offered a thoughtful and beautifully presented selection of works.
Best Vibe
FOCUS SECTION FRIEZE
Zenobia Lee Sea View Gallery – Focus Section, Courtesy of Anne Verhallen.
Storm Ascher in her booth Superpostion gallery, Courtesy of Anne Verhallen.
The best vibe of the week was in the Focus section at Frieze, curated by Essence Harden. The section featured female-led galleries such as Sea View Gallery, led by Sara Lee Hantman, presenting Zenobia Lee, and Superposition Gallery, led by Storm Ascher, presenting Greg Ito. This section of the fair has consistently brought high energy and great vibes, making it a true pleasure to visit year after year.
