Frieze New York opens to the public today, on view through May 17 at The Shed. Led by Christine Messineo, this year’s edition brings together 68 galleries from 25 countries, balancing international powerhouses with younger galleries and emerging voices in presentations that feel thoughtful and responsive to the current moment. Yesterday afternoon’s preview was packed with collectors, curators, artists, gallery regulars, and cultural icons—including Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Fox, Ciara, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Anne Pasternak, Max Hollein, and Kelly Wearstler, among many others—moving between booths and catching up beneath the soaring architecture of The Shed.
International Galleries and Standout Booth Presentations
Genesis Belanger at Perrotin at Frieze New York 2026.
Agrade Camíz and Ana Silva at A Gentil Carioca at Frieze New York 2026.
Across the fair, exhibitors presented a wide-ranging mix of contemporary practices spanning painting, sculpture, photography, installation, textile, and performance. Major galleries—including Perrotin, Gagosian, White Cube, and Thaddaeus Ropac—showed works by established figures alongside newer voices, while galleries like James Cohan, Public Gallery, and Southern Guild highlighted tightly curated presentations by emerging and mid-career artists.
Throughout the preview, conversations repeatedly circled back to a handful of especially memorable presentations. Among the standouts were works by Genesis Belanger at Perrotin and Maya Lin at Pace Gallery, both of which drew steady crowds throughout the day. Elsewhere, compelling presentations by Agrade Camíz and Ana Silva at A Gentil Carioca offered layered explorations of material and identity, while sculptural works by Tony Matelli at François Ghebaly brought moments of surprise and humor to the fair floor.
Other highlights included paintings by Andrew Sim at Anton Kern Gallery, richly atmospheric works by Hernan Bas at Victoria Miro, and ambitious multimedia presentations by Marianna Simnett at SOCIETE. Strong presentations by Meghdad Lorpour and Anas Albraehe at mor charpentier further reinforced the fair’s international breadth and commitment to showcasing a range of perspectives.
Emerging Voices Bring a Sense of Discovery to Frieze Focus
Anas Albraehe at mor charpentier at Frieze New York 2026.
A strong sense of discovery was especially present within the lively presentation of “Focus,” Frieze’s section dedicated to younger and emerging galleries. Often one of the fair’s most exciting areas, the section this year felt energetic and highly engaged, with visitors lingering in booths and returning for second looks.
This year, W-Galería received the 2026 Focus Stand Prize for its presentation of work by Seba Calfuqueo, while honorable mentions went to Soft Opening and Gordon Robichaux. Across the section, galleries embraced more experimental presentations, creating opportunities for visitors to encounter artists and practices that felt fresh and unexpected.
At the preview, engagement with institutions also played a major role for several exhibitors. Acquisitions by the Brooklyn Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Art through the inaugural Sherman Family Foundation Acquisition Fund reinforced the fair’s ongoing dialogue between galleries, artists, collectors, and public collections. These acquisitions also underscored the growing importance of fairs as spaces not only for sales, but for institutional discovery and long-term support of artists’ careers.
Frieze New York Extends Beyond the Fair Floor
Maya Lin at Pace Gallery at Frieze New York 2026.
Beyond the countless booths, Frieze New York expanded its programming through collaborations with major cultural institutions across the city. Projects developed with the Whitney Museum of American Art, Dia Art Foundation, and Counterpublic introduced performance, photography, and site-responsive installation into the fair environment, helping activate spaces beyond the traditional booth format.
Highlights included a performance and photographic installation by Jonathan González, a collaboration with David Lamelas, and a new commission by Kite. These projects added another layer to the experience of the fair, emphasizing participation, movement, and dialogue throughout the building.
As collectors, curators, and visitors continue to move through The Shed this week, Frieze New York 2026 feels defined not just by marquee names and blue-chip presentations, but by its balance of established artists, emerging voices, and institutional engagement. The result is a fair that feels both expansive and grounded in the conversations shaping contemporary art right now.
Tony Matelli at Francois Ghebaly at Frieze New York 2026.
Marianna Simnett at SOCIETE at Frieze New York 2026.
Seba Calfuqueo at W-galería at Frieze New York 2026.
