Frieze Masters Spotlights Art History
The 11th edition of Frieze Masters opens this week in London at Regent’s Park from October 11–15, concurrent with the 20th anniversary edition of Frieze London. Shining a curatorial spotlight on historic artwork dating from the Paleolithic era to the 20th century, more than 130 galleries will be present this year, visible across a main exhibition floor. Both new and returning sectors, as well as an array of programming and talks, will take place, as well, including Studio, Modern Women, Spotlight, and Stand Out.
“As we celebrate 20 years of Frieze London, we will also recognize the contribution Frieze Masters has made to that story. The fair will provide a chance to discover works from prehistory to the break of the 21st century, demonstrating connections in creative production throughout millennia. This year’s edition sees a high concentration of artists that also have exhibitions at esteemed London institutions, emphasizing how Frieze Masters is a rare opportunity to engage with museum-quality works,” said Nathan Clements-Gillespie, Frieze Masters Director.
Franz West, “Agoraphobischer Gymnopäde,” 1982, Gouache, felt-tip pen and pencil on magazine page 10 15/16 x 8 3/16 inches; © Archiv Franz West, © Estate Franz West, photo by Prudence Cuming Associates Ltd, courtesy of Franz West Privatstiftung and Gagosian.
Best Booths at Frieze Masters
Those attending the fair should see standout booths like a collaboration between Charles Beddington Gallery and Artur Ramon Art that showcases work by Pablo Picasso, Canaletto, and Eppo Doeve; work by Ai Weiwei from the 1980s and ‘90s on view with Galleria Continua; 30 years of work by El Anatsui with Jack Shainman, coinciding with the artist’s Tate Turbine Hall Commission; and acclaimed paintings by the artist Emily Kam Kngwarray on view at D’Lan Contemporary. Also of note are presentations by art spaces Philip Mould & Company, Rafaels Valls, Gomide&Co, Galerie Eric Coatalem and Galerie G. Sarti, ArtAncient, and Salomon Lilian.
What’s New at Frieze Masters 2023
The brand-new Studio sector has been curated by Sheena Wagstaff, Chair of Modern and Contemporary Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, who has selected works that highlight the creative spirit linked to the spaces in which artists create. Arlene Shechet’s work can be seen at Pace Gallery, and Maggi Hambling’s creations—marking a return to the studio following a near-fatal heart attack—are on view with Hazlitt Holland-Hibbert and Frankie Rossie Art Projects. Concurrently, Modern Women makes its debut under the care of Camille Morineau, the co-founder of AWARE (Archive of Women Artists, Research, and Exhibitions), with presentations of women artists like Anna-Eva Bergman and Germaine Richier presented by Perrotin; Vintage Galeria bringing algorithmically-generated graphic drawings by Vera Molnár; and works from the 1960s and ‘70s by Faith Ringgold shown with ACA Galleries.
Pablo Picasso, “Nature morte,” 1937, Oil on canvas, 46.3 x 64.8 cm; courtesy of Helly Nahmad London.
Not-to-Miss at Frieze Masters 2023
Fairgoers should also be on the lookout for a showcase of influential 20th-century artists in the Spotlight platform, curated for the first time by Valerie Cassel Oliver (the Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts), who has chosen to focus on overlooked work from the 1950–1970s. Meanwhile, the third consecutive iteration of the Stand Out sector challenges traditional media hierarchies through the curation of Luke Syson (Director and Marlay Curator of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge), including Adrian Sassoon’s presentation of Elizabeth Fritsch, Sam Fogg presenting the Baird Casket, and Prahlad Bubbar’s show drawing attention to the contemporary relevance of Joseph Kosuth’s 1967 Réalisation, which can be seen in the context of art spanning 1600–1800.
“Head of a Young Man,” 2nd century CE, Marble, 23 cm high; courtesy of Colnaghi.
