Frieze Los Angeles launched with significant early momentum as Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel acquired three quilts by artist Yvonne Wells from Fort Gansevoort before VIP hours officially began. The fair's opening day saw robust activity, including the $3.7 million sale of an Ed Ruscha painting, while major galleries like Pace Prints and Opera Gallery announced strategic expansions into Los Angeles and Houston respectively.
In London, the 'Big Three' auction houses are preparing for a high-stakes spring season with over $438 million worth of art hitting the block. Sotheby’s, Christie’s, and Phillips have all reported significantly larger sale volumes compared to the previous year, led by blue-chip masterpieces from Francis Bacon, Wassily Kandinsky, and Vilhelm Hammershøi, signaling a potential rebound or recalibration in the global secondary market.