Art fairs appear serene on the surface, but behind the scenes, logistics professionals work frantically to install hundreds of artworks under tight deadlines. The article features firsthand accounts from gallerists and shippers, including Francis Petit of Gander & White, who compares the process to a choreographed performance. Specific stories include the installation of Gianpietro Carlesso’s heavy Torre di Saba (2009) at Frieze Sculpture 2020, which required digging a hole and pouring a concrete base in the rain; the transport of a Calder Stegosaurus sculpture for Art Basel Miami Beach 2013 during Thanksgiving; and Mandy El-Sayegh’s immersive booth installation at Frieze London 2023, which turned the space into an extension of her studio.
This article matters because it pulls back the curtain on the invisible labor that makes major art fairs possible, highlighting the expertise, coordination, and problem-solving required to realize artists’ visions in high-pressure environments. By focusing on the logistics professionals—often overlooked in art-world coverage—it underscores the collaborative ecosystem behind every fair, from shippers and engineers to gallerists and technicians, and reveals how their work directly impacts the visitor experience and the success of the event.