This October, the art crowds are back in London for three art fairs in one - Frieze London, Frieze Masters and Frieze Sculpture. Frieze London is the contemporary art fair. Among my highlights are: Anthea Hamilton's Giant Pumpkins, Jeffrey Gibson's solo presentation, Laure Prouvost's multi-disciplinary project, and Estonian kinetic and sound artist Kaarel Kurismaa at Temnikova & Kasela Gallery. Frieze Masters as always showcases museum-quality pieces spanning from antiquity to the 20th century. Frieze Sculpture is a free exhibition set out in the Regent's Park's English Gardens and comprises 19 large-scale works by a diverse group of artists of different generations and backgrounds. London, UK October 12, 2022
Tag: artist
BIAF | Florence 2022
My coverage of the 32nd edition of the Florence Biennial International Antique Fair (Biennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze, or BIAF) takes you to Florence, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. About 80 galleries showcase their museum-quality art objects in Palazzo Corsini. I met three galleries representing three discrete periods -- from old masters (Giacometti Old Master Paintings, Naples), to 19th century (Berardi Galleria d’Arte, Rome), to modern (Tornabuoni Arte, Florence). BIAF even ventures into the metaverse with a virtual gallery in collaboration with Ernst & Young Italy. In conjunction with BIAF the city celebrates art by holding the Florence Art Week with a series of collateral events, among them: Olafur Elliason's exhibition "Nel tuo tempo" in Palazzo Strozzi, and Tony Cragg's exhibition "Transfer" in the Museo Novecente. I also had the pleasure of meeting the owner of Fratelli Piccini, the oldest goldsmith on Ponte Vecchio.
Frieze New York 2022
Frieze New York 2022 art fair is back in the Shed at Hudson Yards in lower Manhattan on the west side. The fair relocated here last year from Randall’s Island. With only 65 galleries, the new director, Christine Messineo says, “The scale of the fair is now more intimate and very manageable.” And it is. The booths mostly present a single artist. More than half are galleries from New York. Here are my highlights. Frame section designated for young galleries less than 10 years old. The section is curated by Sophie Mörner. Her own gallery, The Company, presents an orgy installation by Cajsa von Zeipel, who coincidentally is Mörner's wife. And perhaps, the most buzz-worthy booth is the Gagosian, which has a vending machine that sells (gives away) Kafftee, a caffeinated drink designed by German artist Albert Oehlen. Special project “Zero Nukes” by Mexican artist Pedro Reyes serves as a warning, especially in the current unstable political situation, about the danger of nuclear war. Finally, I can't not mention a presentation at the Breguet stand in the upstairs lounge. It's part of the two-year Swiss watchmaker Breguet collaboration with Frieze.
Palm Beach Modern and Contemporary Show 2022
At the opening night of the Palm Beach Modern and Contemporary Show, British photographer Harry Benson was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. At 92, Benson is full of wit and humor. His career spans over 60 years, from refugee camps in Africa to royals and presidents, but perhaps his most recognizable photographs are of the Beatles. Nowadays, he lives in Florida with his wife Gigi and two dogs. "The first thing I'll do is when I get home I'll show it to my dogs," he said accepting his award. The show collaborated with Holden Luntz Gallery to exhibit some of Benson's most prominent works. Jodi Luntz shared with me the backstory of the iconic photograph "The Pillow Fight" at George V hotel in Paris.
Frieze Los Angeles 2022
After skipping a year due to the pandemic, the third edition of Frieze Los Angeles is back and has a new venue called “The Tent” in Beverly Hills. It’s designed by LA-based architect Kulapat Yantrasast, a darling of the art world. Also, the fair has a new director, Christine Messineo. It’s always nice to see a woman at the helm. One of the highlights of the fair is a participatory installation “Dreamer's Folly” (2010) at Gagosian. It’s designed by the late L.A. artist Chris Burden and consists of three joined cast-iron gazebos covered in lace. A separate exhibition BIPOC EXCHANGE is curated by LA-based artist Tanya Aguiñiga and showcases ten local non-profits.
Greaves Productions 