Whitewaller London has everything you need to know about the London fairs opening this week.
Frieze London
October 3—5
Although 2018 marks one hundred years of women’s suffrage in the U.K., the 16th edition of Frieze London will not celebrate; it will challenge. Calling out heavily institutionalized discrimination, Frieze London 2018 collaborates with international curators, institutions, and galleries to respond to the hidden systems of communication, control, and marketing within the art world. With progress in mind, Frieze welcomes a new themed collection: “Social Work.” Selected by a panel of 11 female art historians and critics, “Social Work” will feature a group of rule-breaking, convention-defying artist-activists.
In addition to the new programming, visitors can expect the return of favorite sections and globally lauded art galleries. The reprise of Frieze Sculpture at The Regent’s Park will offer free entry to see sculptural works by 25 artists from five continents. Galleries returning to the fair include Galerie Gisela Capitain, Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, Lisson Gallery, Salon 94, Sprüth Magers, White Cube, David Zwirner, Marian Goodman Gallery, Matthew Marks Gallery, and Pace Gallery. They will be joined by exciting newcomers Xavier Hufkens, Galerie Lelong & Co., Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Michael Benevento, Bodega, Ginerva Gambino, High Art, Jhaveri Contemporary, and Edouard Malingue Gallery.
Frieze Masters
October 3—5
Bringing together 130 galleries specializing in six millennia of global art history, Frieze Masters presents an unparalleled selection of expertly vetted art and antiquities. The available museum-quality works will range from ancient Chinese masterworks to works by Old Masters, including ritual bronzes (eighth–fifth century BC) and a presentation of work by the American artist Richard Diebenkorn. The fair is curated for discovery, surprise, and excellence, with programming that highlights the richness of artistic achievement. Frieze’s director, Victoria Siddall, said of the showing in a statement, “This fair is defined by its extraordinary quality and breathtaking diversity and the fair genuinely offers something for everyone, from the most knowledgeable connoisseurs to those who are new to historical art.”
Participants include Sycomore Ancient Art (Geneva), Galleria Tega (Milan), Galerie Thomas (Munich), Tornabuoni Art (London), David Zwirner (London), Didier Aaron (Paris), Acquavella Galleries (New York), Le Claire Kunst (Hamburg), Arts d’Extrême-Orient (Brussels), kamel mennour (Paris), Raccanello Leprince (London), Schönewald Fine Arts (Düsseldorf), and Anthony Meier Fine Arts (San Francisco).
PAD London Art+Design
October 1—7
Returning to its Berkeley Square stomping ground, PAD London Art+Design will run from October 1 to October 7, 2018. PAD London has become a must-visit event, widely considered Europe’s leading cross-collecting fair for art and design. This year—the twelfth edition—stages
68 galleries specializing in art, design, decorative arts, antiquities, and jewelry. Emerging and established designers will rub elbows, offering genre-defying selections.
Onsite programming will feature the PAD London Prize (awarded for Best Stand, Best Contemporary Design, and Best 20th Century Design) and an immersive exhibition of Ingrid Donat’s sculptural furniture at the Carpenters Workshop Gallery stand. The roster represents galleries from Spain, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Greece, Switzerland, Monaco, the United Kingdom, and the United States, including Aktis Gallery, Blairman, DIMOREGALLERY, Alain Marcelpoil, De Jonckheere, Rossana Orlandi, Hemmerle, Maria Wettergren, and Robert Zehil.
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair
October 4—7
Year after year, 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair has reinforced its foremost place in the global discussion of contemporary African Art. Since 2013, 1-54 has brought together global perspectives, artists, and galleries to engage in ongoing, fruitful dialogue. For its sixth London edition, October 4–17, 2018, the fair will showcase innovative collaborations with The Gallery of Everything, Copperfield Gallery, Nando’s, Ed Cross Fine Art, Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Sulger-Buel Lovell, and 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning, as well as the first major U.K. solo exhibition of the artist Athi-Patra Ruga’s work, and the first public sculptural project by Ibrahim El-Salahi in Somerset House’s
courtyard. In numbers, 1-54 will represent more than 130 artists, 42 galleries, 11 solo shows, and 33 countries.
Eleven of those 42 galleries will also be first-timers: ADN Galeria, Art Bärtschi & Cie, Burning in Water, Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Gallery Nosco, HUBERTY & BREYNE GALLERY, James Cohan, Kristin Hjellegjerde, Loft Art Gallery, MOV’ART Gallery, Retro Africa, and Yossi Milo Gallery. 1-54 has also announced that there will be 16 galleries from Africa: Addis Fine Art, AFRONOVA GALLERY, AGorgi Gallery, ARTLabAfrica, Circle Art Gallery, Galerie Cécile Fakhoury, Gallery 1957, Loft Art Gallery, Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art, MOV’ART Gallery, Retro Africa, Selma Feriani Gallery, SMAC Gallery, SMO Contemporary Art, VOICE gallery, and WHATIFTHEWORLD.