LOS ANGELES WELCOMED FRIEZE ART FAIR FOR THEIR INAUGURAL EDITION

“The debut of this fair has a been long awaited moment that finally offers a key platform to showcase the strength and scope of our arts scene and this city’s global cultural role.”

Frieze Los Angeles debuted as a new international art fair on February 14, 2019 and closed on Sunday, February 17, 2019, celebrating the city’s pivotal role in the international art community.

The fair attracted 30,000 attendance across the gallery tent and backlot program, including civic leaders, international art collectors, curators, critics, and members of the Hollywood entertainment community. 70 local and international galleries participated, and robust sales were reported from the opening hours of the fair and throughout the weekend. Frieze Los Angeles also built on Frieze’s long-standing commitment to curated content, with a non-stop program of immersive artworks, talks and screenings beyond the gallery tent in Paramount Pictures Studios.

As part of the launch of the new fair, Frieze collaborated with Endeavor and Mark Bradford to offer a limited edition print, made available through Hauser & Wirth, to benefit the Art for Justice Fund that supports greater career opportunities for people transitioning back home from prison. Frieze Los Angeles is supported by global lead partner Deutsche Bank in its inaugural year.

*Hannah Greely, Frieze Projects at Frieze Los Angeles 2019. Courtesy of Frieze.*

“We could not have hoped for a better inaugural edition of Frieze Los Angeles in terms of attendance, atmosphere and sales,” said Victoria Siddall, Director of Frieze Fairs. “The excellent results reported by the participating galleries is testament to the strength and support of the Los Angeles art community as well as the international audience who came here for Frieze Week. The magical setting of Paramount Pictures Studios was the perfect location for the fair and for the curated programming that surrounded it. We and our partner Endeavor have made a long-term commitment to Los Angeles and we are already looking forward to 2020 and beyond.”

Prominent guests at the fair included entertainment industry figures like Leonardo DiCaprio, Eve, Jane Fonda, Jodie Foster, Billy Idol, Al Pacino, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brad Pitt, Amy Poehler, Maria Sharapova, Sylvester Stallone, and Kanye West; among many others.

*Jeppe Hein, I AM RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW, 2018. Image courtesy of König Galerie via Artnet.*

“Frieze Los Angeles celebrates a city composed of artists, with the greatest visual artists working and being educated at some of the best art schools in the nation, alongside the creative talent found in the city’s entertainment business,” said collector and MOCA Board Member Maria Bell. “The debut of this fair has a been long awaited moment that finally offers a key platform to showcase the strength and scope of our arts scene and this city’s global cultural role.”

*Sarah Cain’s “I touched a cactus flower,” from 2019, in her made- over interior of a fake brownstone during Frieze Los Angeles. Credit: Graham Walzer for The New York Times.*

The art was an eclectic mix of new contemporary artists, established artists, and modern art. Notable booths/artists: Ken Price ‘Los Angeles’ series which was all new work including ceramics – completely sold out by the public opening; Do Ho Suh ‘Locks’ ‘Smoke Detectors’-an entire wall of small sheer sculptures made from fabric and sewn together (including the writing); Blum&Poe’s entire booth painting with dripped turquoise blue paint really brought the entire booth to life and all the paintings together; Koak new paintings; Joan Semmel ‘The Velvet Couch’, and Claire Tabouret with Night Gallery.

On-site coverage and slideshow of images by Fahren Feingold for The Untitled Magazine