An insight on Frieze 2024, the contemporary art fair taking place in Regent’s Park celebrating its 21st edition
Founded in 2003 by Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover, Frieze London is one of the most influential contemporary art fairs, focusing on artists and discovery. This year the fair celebrates its 21st edition, which has been “reimagined, with solo presentations and emerging artists front and center, in a demonstration of Frieze’s commitment to the most exciting art being made today” as the fair’s director Eva Langret described.
From 9-13 October 2024, in Regent’s Park, art lovers were able to admire artworks presented by more than 170 galleries from 47 different countries. The newly designed floor plan aims to give more visibility to the new realities, as from this edition on, two stands featuring solo artists will open the fair. Each year, the Frieze London committee will make a new selection, to foster exchange of ideas, visibility opportunities for emerging artists, and new perspectives. The fair divided itself into two, the contemporary art focused Frieze and Frieze Masters, which focuses more on historical and established art and galleries.
The new location and layout positioned leading international galleries such as Gagosian, Goodman Gallery, Hauser & Wirth, Gallery Hyundai, Tina Kim Gallery, Lehmann Maupin, Pace Gallery, Perrotin, Almine Rech, Thaddaeus Ropac, Esther Schipper, Sprüth Magers and David Zwirner, alongside emerging and young galleries from around the world. The new set up has been appreciated by the public and the artworld, reporting that they were able to meet new people and foster conversations. Its aim was the one to enhance the diversity of participating galleries, showing the connections between these different perspectives and Frieze’s role in fostering creative dialogues.The 2024 Frieze London Stand Prize won by Guatemala City, Proyectos Ultravioleta, for its trans-generational dual presentation, highlights the duality of the innovative floor plan. Additionally, new artworks by living artist Edgar Calel were presented in dialogue with historical miniatures by Rosa Elena Curruchic (1958-2005), addressing economic exploitation and political struggle.
Curated section Artist-to-Artist this year featured six solo presentations, each selected by a world renowned artist. In this section visitors could admire artworks by Massinissa Selmani selected by Zineb Sedira, Rob Davis selected by Rashid Johnson, Magda Stawarska selected by Lubaina Himid, Nengi Omuku selected by Yinka Shonibare CBE, Peter Uka selected by Hurvin Anderson, and Appau Jnr Boakye-Yiadom Selected by Glenn Ligon.This edition's themed section investigated diasporic and indigenous histories. Organized by Pablo José Ramírez (Curator, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles), SMOKE featured ceramic artworks from international artists. The commitment to dedicate space to new voices emerged also through the section Focus, this year presented in collaboration with Stone Island. In this section, artist Nat Faulkner (Brunette Coleman) was awarded the Camden Art Centre Emerging Artist Prize. As to further highlight young galleries, Frieze London awards a Focus Stand Prize, this year won by the gallery Hot Wheels (Athens, London) for its innovative solo presentation by New York art and fashion collective CFGNY.
Even if there was an overall uncertainty about the fair’s trends, as shortly after Art Basel Paris had started, sales were better than in 2023. Some important names such as Matthew Marks, David Kordansky, Casey Kaplan and Marianne Boesky, U.S., who had been regular exhibitors at Frieze London were not present during this edition. This fair has seen important sales such as: Houser and Wirth, who sold the rare 1865 Édouard Manet painting “Public Enclosure at the Longchamp Racecourse,” priced at 4.5 million euros at Frieze Masters. At the same fair, Hauser & Wirth also sold a gray-toned 1947 canvas by Arshile Gorky, titled “The Opaque,” marked at $8.5 million. David Zwirner’s sales at Frieze London were led by a painting by Lisa Yuskavage for $2.2 million. Kukje Gallery’s sales at Frieze London included five Ha Chong-hyun pieces in the range of $540,000–$649,000, and another mixed-media piece in the range of $253,000–$303,600. White Cube’s reported sales were led by an Al Held painting, which sold for $450,000. Thaddaeus Ropac’s reported sales were led by Antony Gormley’s SHELF III (2024), which sold for £500,000 ($653,227). Pace Gallery sold a work by David Hockney’s 25th July–7th August 2021, Rain on the Pond (2021), omitting the price. Almine Rech sold out its works by Ji Xin, each priced up to $50,000.
In its 21st edition, Frieze London 2024 has once again affirmed its reputation as a hub of contemporary art, by reimagining the fair’s structure with a focus on solo presentations and innovative dialogues between artists, Frieze has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to diversity, creativity, and cultural exchange. Despite the uncertainty surrounding art market trends, the fair achieved strong sales, with high-profile transactions underscoring its commercial strength