Frieze New York Opens Strong, But the Real Test Is Just Beginning

Frieze New York has opened with strong early sales, particularly in the Focus section, which is dedicated to emerging and underrepresented artists. This year's Focus prize was awarded to W Galería for its presentation of Seba Calfuqueo, a Mapuche artist whose work addresses colonialism, environmentalism, and gender identity through ceramic sculptures and hair-based materials. Her pieces are priced between $8,000 and $40,000, reflecting the market's growing interest in politically engaged contemporary art.

Frieze New Writers Pick Vienna’s Must-See Exhibitions

Andrew Durbin reviews national pavilions at a major art event, contrasting a vacuous US presentation with incisive and moving installations from Britain and Germany. The piece is part of Frieze's 'Critic's Guides' series, offering a pointed critique of the US pavilion's lack of meaning against the strength of its European counterparts.

‘It was the cheapest possible art form I could imagine’: Sophia Al-Maria performs stand-up for Frieze London

Sophia Al-Maria, winner of the 2025 Frieze London Artist Award, is performing a stand-up routine titled *Wall-Based Work* (2025) daily at the fair. Her act blends humor and serious topics, from art world bureaucracy and the Gaza conflict to being mansplained to by Robert De Niro, and includes karaoke and an editioned work benefiting the LGBTQ+ asylum charity Micro Rainbow.

Frieze opens permanent base in Seoul

Frieze is opening a permanent exhibition space in Seoul called Frieze Seoul House, set to debut alongside Frieze Seoul 2025. Located in a former home in the Yaksu-dong neighborhood, the venue will model itself after Frieze's No. 9 Cork Street in London, offering temporary selling spaces for galleries from out of town. The space will also host non-commercial programming, including exhibitions by architects, film-makers, and fashion designers, as well as talks and lectures. Frieze will relocate its Seoul office to the building, which was designed in 1988 and renovated by local studio Samuso Hyoja.

Im Youngzoo wins Frieze Seoul Artist Award

Multimedia artist Im Youngzoo has won the Frieze Seoul Artist Award 2025, creating a new commission titled "Calming Signal" for this year's edition of the fair. The three-channel video installation explores how humans use learned and repeated gestures during times of collective unease, drawing inspiration from Norwegian dog trainer Turid Rugaas's concept of calming signals—instinctual behaviors animals use to de-escalate conflict. Im, born in 1982, works across video, installation, performance, and virtual reality, and has also been shortlisted for the 2025 Korea Artist Prize, with her work currently on view at MMCA Seoul.

Best Booths at Frieze, the Workhorse of Contemporary Art

The article highlights standout booths at Frieze New York, held at the Shed, featuring 65 galleries. It notes a dominant presence of paintings alongside a surprising array of small sculptures, offering a curated look at the fair's most compelling presentations.

Sherman Fund Acquires Work by Emerging Artists for US Museums

The Sherman Fund has acquired works by emerging artists for donation to US museums, supporting new talent and expanding institutional collections. The initiative focuses on acquiring pieces from lesser-known contemporary artists and placing them in public institutions to increase accessibility and representation.

Frieze Prize Winners at the 2026 Venice Biennale

Frieze has announced the winners of its prize program at the 2026 Venice Biennale. The prizes recognize outstanding contributions by artists and curators participating in the Biennale, with awards given across multiple categories including emerging talent and innovative exhibition practices. The winners were selected by a jury of international art professionals and will receive financial support and visibility through Frieze's platforms.

Davide Hjort Di Fabio Recasts the Sick Body

The article profiles artist Davide Hjort Di Fabio, whose work explores the experience of chronic illness and the sick body through sculpture and installation. He uses materials like silicone, resin, and medical paraphernalia to create visceral forms that challenge conventional representations of health and the human form.

The Tech Bro Problem in Public Art

The article critiques the growing influence of wealthy tech entrepreneurs on public art commissions, arguing that their personal tastes and desire for monumental, often self-aggrandizing works are reshaping civic spaces. It highlights how this trend sidelines professional curatorial expertise and community input, replacing public dialogue with private patronage that prioritizes technological spectacle over artistic depth or social relevance.

Slow Looking and the Rise of the One-Work Exhibition

The Institutions and Collectives Putting the Gulf First

Dana Awartani Mends Ancestral Wounds

Saudi artist Dana Awartani has created a new installation, 'Listen to my Words,' for the 2024 Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale. The work features a large-scale geometric floor pattern made from hand-dyed silk, which visitors are invited to walk upon, deliberately fraying and damaging the intricate design over the course of the exhibition.

Five Emerging Artists to Watch at Frieze New York 2026

After Gulf Futurism, What Next?

The Negative Aura of Catherine Christer Hennix

Catherine Christer Hennix's exhibition at Malmö Konsthall presents an austere yet expansive body of work that weaves together mathematics, mysticism, and sound. The artist's practice is characterized by a focus on absence, silence, and negative space, creating an immersive environment that challenges conventional sensory engagement.

On the Familial Turn in Photography

A growing number of contemporary photographers are shifting their focus from traditional documentary subjects to their own personal and familial archives. This movement, termed the 'familial turn,' sees artists using intimate, domestic materials as primary sources for artistic exploration and narrative construction.

6 Exhibitions to See During EXPO Chicago 2026

The art world is witnessing a significant shift toward 'one-work exhibitions,' where entire gallery or museum spaces are dedicated to a single object. This curatorial trend, often referred to as 'slow looking,' prioritizes deep engagement and spatial experience over the traditional model of high-volume, rapid-fire viewing. By isolating a single masterpiece or installation, institutions are challenging the 'speed and glut' that defines modern digital and visual consumption.

Exhibitions to See Across the US This April

A curated selection of notable art exhibitions opening across the United States in April is highlighted. Key shows include Pat Oleszko's inflatable sculptures at New York's SculptureCenter and the annual 'The Photography Show' in New York.

Open Call for Contemporary Art Commissions for the V&A South Kensington's new South Asia Gallery

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has issued an open call for contemporary artists and designers to create new carved wooden panels for a 19th-century coffered ceiling from a temple in Kochi, South India, which will be the centerpiece of its redesigned South Asia Gallery at South Kensington. The ceiling, measuring 6 by 1.7 meters and originally comprising 45 panels, has been in storage for over 70 years; more than half of its panels are missing. The commission invites applicants to replace the lost panels with sensitivity to the original materials, design, and craftsmanship, integrating them into the restored structure. Expressions of interest are due by 28 February 2026.

Ari Emanuel to buy Frieze from Endeavor

Endeavor has announced the sale of Frieze, the leading art fair and media brand, to a new company founded by Ari Emanuel, Endeavor's former chief executive. The deal, reportedly valued at nearly $200 million, includes all seven Frieze art fairs, the magazine Frieze, and its gallery sharing initiative No.9 Cork Street in London. Emanuel, who co-founded Endeavor, created an as-yet-unnamed global events company backed by investors including Apollo Global Management and Redbird Capital Partners. The acquisition is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, and Frieze's leadership, including CEO Simon Fox, will remain in place.

Double-edged sword: arms and armour play a small—but mighty—role at Frieze Masters

At Frieze Masters, dealer Peter Finer presents a stand filled with historical arms and armour, including a gilded horse-and-rider suite priced at £1.8 million, an Italian Renaissance sword with a Medusa hilt, and a late 16th-century crossbow. Prices range from £6,500 to seven figures. Finer, whose dealership was founded in 1967, is the sole specialist in this category at the fair, with clients ranging from major museums to niche collectors, such as a Viking sword enthusiast. Other scattered examples include a silver-gilt Shield of Achilles at Koopman Rare Art and Bronze Age spearheads at Rupert Wace.

Location, location, location: behind the Art Basel floor plan beef

Air de Paris, a veteran contemporary gallery that has exhibited at Art Basel since 1999, announced its withdrawal from the upcoming edition after a dispute over its assigned stand. Co-founders Florence Bonnefous and Edouard Merino made their exit public by posting emails online via Provence, a French publishing house, calling the stand assignment process “brutal and unfair.” Art Basel’s chief artistic officer Vincenzo de Bellis defended the decision, noting that 58 galleries had their stands moved this year due to the launch of a new section called Premiere and the need to improve visitor flow and aesthetic dialogue between exhibitors.

stella alliance women art collectors global connection

Chimere Cissé and Greta Scarpa founded STELLA Alliance in November 2024, a global community dedicated to uplifting and connecting women art collectors. The platform offers invitation-only workshops, curated Art Drops featuring works vetted by curators and gallerists, and international gatherings from Milan to Abu Dhabi. In an interview with CULTURED ahead of Frieze London, the founders discuss their mission to close the gender gap in art collecting and build a network that prioritizes long-term cultural stewardship over short-term market trends.

Frieze House Seoul Gives Art Fair a Permanent Presence

Frieze has established a permanent venue in Seoul called Frieze House, giving the art fair a year-round presence in the South Korean capital. The space will host exhibitions, events, and programming beyond the annual Frieze Seoul fair, signaling the fair's long-term commitment to the Asian art market.

London | Artist Studio Visit with Dima Rebus

This article features a studio visit with London-based artist Dima Rebus, offering an intimate look into his creative process, workspace, and recent works. The piece includes photographs of the studio and Rebus at work, providing insight into his artistic practice and the environment that shapes his output.

How can art fairs become greener?

Art fairs face significant sustainability challenges due to their temporary nature. Untitled Art in Miami Beach, held in a tent on the beach, works with environmental departments to ensure zero impact, reusing its tent annually. Fairs in permanent venues like Art Basel Miami Beach at the LEED Silver-rated convention center must manage temporary walls, energy use, and waste. Exhibitors struggle with high carbon emissions—art fair activities account for a third of a gallery's annual emissions—and waste from packing materials. Shipping constraints often force reliance on air freight over slower, greener options like ocean or rail, especially for last-minute, high-value consignments. The competitive, secretive atmosphere further hinders consolidated shipments and sustainable practices.

Art Fairs to See in the New York City Area in May

The New York Times has published a guide to art fairs taking place in the New York City area during May. The article lists several major and smaller fairs, including Frieze New York, NADA New York, and the Independent Art Fair, providing details on dates, locations, and featured galleries. It serves as a practical resource for collectors, curators, and art enthusiasts planning their May art-viewing schedule.

Lumi Tan on How She Plans Frieze New York’s Focus Program

Lumi Tan, the curator of Frieze New York’s Focus program, discusses her approach to planning the section of the fair dedicated to emerging and underrepresented galleries. The article outlines her selection criteria, which prioritize conceptual rigor and diverse geographic representation, and highlights specific galleries and artists she has chosen for the upcoming edition.

11 Unmissable Exhibition Openings in 2026

Frieze magazine has published a curated list of 11 unmissable exhibition openings scheduled for 2026, highlighting major institutional shows and biennials around the world. The selection spans diverse venues and artists, reflecting the global scope of contemporary art programming for the coming year.