DOMreviews: Frieze London 2023
Every year in the heart of London, we see one of the most important international art events unfold; Frieze London has grown to become one of the most prestigious and eagerly anticipated fairs on the global art calendar, captivating the imaginations of collectors, curators, and enthusiasts from around the world.
With each passing year, the event has not only showcased the very best of contemporary art but has also come to reflect the ever-changing dynamics of our times, offering a glimpse into the zeitgeist. Join us as we explore Frieze London 2023 and embark on a journey, not only through the marvelous exhibitors but also, through the origins and evolution of this cultural phenomenon.
Beneath the dazzling celebrations and thought-provoking work lies a rich history that has shaped the event. What many don’t know is that before the establishment of the Frieze Art Fair, Frieze was originally a magazine. Founded in 1991 by Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover, Frieze Magazine was created as a platform for coverage of the contemporary art world, providing a forum for critical discourse, interviews with artists, and reviews of exhibitions in a pre-internet world that was lacking in such forums.
Building on the success and reputation of the magazine, Sharp and Slotover expanded their creative vision to include the Frieze Art Fair, which took place for the first time in London's Regent's Park in October 2003. The event was established as a response to the growing demand for contemporary art fairs that could rival events like Art Basel and Art Basel Miami Beach and it quickly took a unique approach that attracted significant attention from the international art community.
In 2012, the organizers also introduced Frieze Masters, a “sister” fair dedicated to art and antiquities from ancient to modern times that would run alongside Frieze London. Frieze Masters complements the contemporary focus of the main fair and allows galleries to curate exhibitions that combine works from different periods and styles. This approach fosters new connections and conversations between different areas of art history, demonstrating connections in creative production that inform the contemporary art world.
Challenging traditional conventions of the art market, Frieze London became synonymous with a sense of exploration and excitement, championing new ideas and interdisciplinary approaches across many media. As a result, the event has now expanded to a global scale, introducing Frieze New York in 2012, Frieze Los Angeles in 2019, and most recently Frieze Seoul in 2022.
This year marked the 20th anniversary, so of course, it was bound to be a big one! The fair brought together emerging and leading galleries spanning 46 countries, making it the most international edition to date. So what were some of our favorites?
Kira Freije - Vocabulary of ruin and the divine wound, 2023 (detail)
Stainless steel, cast aluminium, silk, velvet, wool, cigarette
The approach
Fiona Banner aka The Vanity Press - DISARM, 2023
Frith Street Gallery
left: Bridget Riley - Measure for Measure Dark with Turquoise 6, 2021
Acrylic on linen
David Zwirner
right: Francis Upritchard - Crying Effigy, 2022
Wool, crystal beads, glass, bronze, padding over steel armature
Kate MacGarry
El Anatsui, ‘Untitled I’
Aluminium, copper wire and nylon string
Goodman Gallery
Patricia L. Boyd - Ceiling Analysis, Secession, 2022
Gillian Wearing - My Charms, 2021
Bronze chain, 3D-printed objects, and mixed media
Maureen Paley Gallery
Installation view, Eddie Marinez - Studio wall Redux
Drawings on paper pinned to wall
Timothy Taylor
Installation view, Damien Hirst - The Secret Gardens Paintings Series, 2023
Gagosian
Isabella Ducrot - Bella Terra series, 2022
china ink, pigments and collage on Chinese paper
Sadie Coles HQ
left: Rose Finn-Kelcey - Here is a Gale Warning, 1971-2011
Silver gelatin print mounted on aluminium
Kate MacGarry
right: Katsuhiro Yamaguchi - Imaginarium
Frieze Masters
Wolfgang Tillmans - Vessels, 2019
Inkjet print on paper, clips
Maureen Paley
front: Jenny Holzer DODDOACID 008769, 2007
Oil on linen
back: Barbara Kruger - Untitled (Much Regards), 2023
Digital print on vinyl
both at Sprüth Magers
Wang Ningde - Form of Light - Untitled 有形之光-无题, 2020
Honeycomb aluminum panel, acrylic, clear lightbox sheet
DON Gallery
left: Katie Paterson - O series, 2023
O II - mixed media using pigment made from ashes of 10000 tree species
O III - mixed media using sand from deserts across the Earth
O V - mixed media using salts collected from evaporated oceans
Ingleby Gallery
right: Sanford Biggers - Cheshire (Janus), 2023
Illuminated sculpture
Every year we are impressed by the diversity and quality of the works that are presented. It is truly a testament to the beating pulse that the fair offers to the international contemporary art scene. We would like to say a huge thank you to the wonderful Kate MacGarry for inviting us and congratulations for participating both in Frieze London and Frieze Masters! We’re excited to come back next year.
Photography by Voytek Ketz