The 2026 Whitney Biennial features a notable contingent of artists who first gained significant attention through their presentations at Frieze art fairs. Artists like Precious Okoyomon and Jordan Strafer, whose work was showcased at Frieze events, are now included in this prestigious survey of contemporary American art.
The article reports on Frieze Los Angeles, a three-day international art fair held at the Santa Monica Airport from February 26 to March 1. The event featured numerous international galleries and artists, with displays ranging from works costing thousands to millions of dollars and attracting over 32,000 visitors. A highlight was the "Frieze Projects: Body & Soul" interactive installation, which encouraged public reflection. The piece also spotlights Santa Monica College alumni Cosmas and Damian Brown, whose outdoor installation "Fountain: Sources of Light" was an interactive steel and ceramic work that allowed audience participation by manipulating the sound and flow of water.
Billionaire Ari Emanuel, whose company Endeavor recently acquired the Frieze art fairs, kicked off the VIP opening of Frieze Los Angeles by acquiring three works by 86-year-old Black quiltmaker Yvonne Wells. Emanuel entered the Santa Monica Airport venue ahead of the general VIP crowd, purchasing textile portraits of Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley from New York gallery Fort Gansevoort. The transaction, facilitated by Emanuel's long-time advisor Jeffrey Deitch, set a high-energy tone for an opening day that saw brisk sales, including a $3.75 million Ed Ruscha painting at Gagosian.