INSIDE THE SHED: FRIEZE ART FAIR 2025 HIGHLIGHTS

INSIDE THE SHED: FRIEZE 2025 HIGHLIGHTS

As the city shakes off its winter layers and embraces the bloom of spring, New York’s art world gears up for its most anticipated event: Frieze New York. From May 7–11, 2025, the iconic Shed at Hudson Yards will once again transform into a vibrant hub where art history’s titans and tomorrow’s trailblazers converge. For collectors, curators, and culture lovers alike, this is not just another fair-it’s a pulse check on the global art scene.

Since its 2012 debut, Frieze New York has established itself as more than a marketplace-it’s a cultural barometer. Under the guidance of Christine Messineo, who also helms Frieze Los Angeles, the fair has become synonymous with cutting-edge curation and international reach. This year, over 65 galleries from around the world will present a kaleidoscope of solo, group, and thematic exhibitions, each vying for the attention of the art world’s most discerning eyes.

The Shed’s soaring, light-filled spaces provide the perfect backdrop for this creative spectacle. The fair’s intimate scale-especially compared to its European counterparts-means every booth feels considered, every encounter with an artwork more personal. It’s the kind of place where you might find yourself in conversation with a legendary gallerist one moment and discovering a future art star the next.

One of Frieze New York’s most exciting features is its Focus section, which champions galleries in operation for 12 years or less. Curated by the ever-insightful Lumi Tan and supported by Stone Island, Focus is where the art world’s next big things often make their mark. This year, the section is especially potent, with solo presentations that tackle urgent themes of identity, memory, and resistance.

Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley’s interactive video installations (brought by London’s Public gallery) promise to immerse visitors in narratives centering Black trans experience, while Jenni Crain’s posthumous show with Gordon Robichaux offers a poignant meditation on legacy and loss. Meanwhile, Citra Sasmita’s textile works at Yeo Workshop weave together Indonesian myth and contemporary feminism, challenging viewers to reconsider cultural inheritance.

Of course, the fair wouldn’t be Frieze without its roster of blue-chip heavyweights. Expect to see headline-grabbing works from Gagosian, David Zwirner, Hauser & Wirth, and Pace, alongside influential New York galleries like 303 Gallery and James Cohan. For collectors, it’s a rare chance to see (and potentially acquire) pieces by both established icons and the most talked-about new voices in contemporary art.

But the fair isn’t just about what’s on the walls. This year’s lineup includes ambitious performance commissions-like a new piece by Finnish artist Pilvi Takala, co-presented with High Line Art-and the return of the Artist Plate Project, which supports Coalition for the Homeless with limited-edition plates by art-world luminaries.

With so much to see, planning is key. Tickets are strictly timed (no re-admission), so book your slot in advance and arrive promptly. The fair runs from Wednesday’s invitation-only preview through Sunday afternoon, with general admission opening Thursday at 1pm. For those who can’t make it in person, the Frieze Viewing Room offers a digital window into the fair’s highlights, connecting global audiences to the action in real time.

Getting to The Shed is a breeze via the 7 train to Hudson Yards, and the venue is fully accessible. Don’t forget to download the Frieze app for maps, schedules, and insider tips, and consider extending your visit with a guided tour or by exploring the city’s gallery scene-many spaces host special events during Frieze Week.

Whether you’re hunting for the next big thing, seeking inspiration, or simply soaking up the creative energy, Frieze New York 2025 is the art event you can’t afford to miss. It is where the future of contemporary art is written in real time.

Frieze New York 2025
May 7–11, The Shed, Manhattan
frieze.com/fairs/frieze-new-york

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