Sophia Al-Maria, winner of this year's Frieze London Artist Award, debuted a stand-up comedy routine titled "Wall-Based Work (2025)" at the fair on Wednesday. The performance, which she described as "the cheapest possible art form I could imagine," covered topics from art world bureaucracy to the assault on Gaza and an encounter with Robert De Niro. The piece will be performed daily throughout the fair, with proceeds from an editioned work benefiting Micro Rainbow, a charity supporting LGBTQ+ asylum seekers.
The award and performance highlight Frieze London's ongoing commitment to platforming experimental, socially engaged practices. By blending humor with political commentary and direct audience interaction, Al-Maria challenges traditional boundaries between performance art, stand-up comedy, and activism, while using the fair's visibility to support a marginalized community.