Frieze London and Frieze Masters are debuting a new hybrid fair model this week, featuring virtual and local programming. Beginning October 5, Frieze Week encompasses events at 128 London art spaces, including happenings like Frieze Sculpture and a series of Frieze Talks. And from October 9-16, the digital Frieze Viewing Room will feature online presentations by more than 250 international galleries, launching with a VIP preview on October 7-8.
“While I could never have imagined that my first fair as Artistic Director would be made in these conditions, I could not be more excited about the presentations, both online and offline, that we’re bringing together for Frieze London and the ingenuity that all our participating artists and galleries have shown,” said Eva Langret, Artistic Director of Frieze London.
Mike Silva, “Michael,” 2020, Oil on linen, 54 x 40 inches; courtesy of the artist.
Frieze Viewing Room visitors have access to a live chat feature, social media sharing functions, and six virtual spaces, four of which were designed by Annabelle Selldorf. Like previous in-person iterations of the fair, online exhibitions have been separated into specially curated sectors like Focus, Spotlight, Possessions—a new section centered around the power of spirituality—and a selection of works curated by Sir Norman Rosenthal entitled “Forever.”
Frieze Masters is the first virtual fair to share art from all ages, bringing museum-quality works to the digital sphere with names like Acquavella Galleries, Dickinson, Barbara Mathes Gallery, Massimo De Carlo, Luxembourg + Co., and Waddington Custot. Contemporary presenters include galleries like Xavier Hufkens, Pace Gallery, Skarstedt, Marian Goodman Gallery, Jhaveri Contemporary, Gupta, kurimanzutto, Almine Rech, 303 Gallery, and Sikkema Jenkins & Co..
Nicole Wermers, “Untitled Stack,” 2020, Robin Day stacking chairs, Balenciaga patent leather coat, fixings, thread. 51.2 x 25.6 x 25.6 inches; courtesy of the artist.
Those local to London can enjoy in-person highlights, many of which will also be featured in the virtual viewing room, like Lisson Gallery’s show of Laure Prouvost, White Cube’s solo presentation of Theaster Gates at its Bermondsey location, works by Holly Hendry on view at Stephen Friedman Gallery, Kate MacGarry showing recent works by Turner Prize winner Helen Cammock, and works by Marie Angeletti, Korakrit Arunanondchai, Bendt Eyckermans, Issy Wood, Oscar Murillo, and Stuart Middleton shown by Carlos/Ishikawa.
This year’s unprecedented Frieze Week will also include happenings like the debut Frieze x Deutsche Bank Emerging Curators Fellowship supporting UK-based curators who are Black or persons of color; curator Clare Lilley’s iteration of Frieze Sculpture, open at The Regent’s Park from October 5-18; a breakfast discussion at The Contemporary Art Society; the LIVE sector, featuring live and online performances by artists like Alvaro Barrington and Anthea Hamilton, held at 9 Cork Street; and the presentation of the Frieze Artist Award 2020 to Alberta Whittle.
Anne Imhof, “Untitled (Sex)”, 2019, steel, foam mattress, 220 x 225 x 100 cm; Courtesy of Galerie Buchholz, Berlin/Cologne/New York.
